One major county transportation project may be endangered after state officials have decided to withdraw federal funding.

One of the three phases of the East Fayetteville Bypass has been called into question as state officials announced recently the results of a year-long review of projects to prioritize funding.

County Public Works Director Phil Mallon told the County Commission last week that the first phase of the project would lose $7 million and the project would likely be funded with all local money as the price increases from $22.3 million to $32.9 million.

The first phase would stretch from Ga. Highway 54 to Jeff Davis Drive; the four-lane project would ultimately link with Ga. Highway 85 north of the Fayette Pavilion.

The controversial West Fayetteville Bypass funding remains intact, but the third and final phase had one comment attached that funding would be reviewed against available financing, Mallon said.

The west bypass will extend from Harp Road near Ga. Highway 85 up to Ga. Highway 92 North at West Bridge Road.

The widening of Ga. Highway 74 from Crosstown Road to Hwy. 85 has been delayed one year, with construction beginning in 2010 instead of this year as initially planned, Mallon reported.

The widening of Hwy. 85 from Grady Avenue in Fayetteville to Hwy. 74 had its right of way acquisition pushed from 2010 to 2016 and the construction remains in the “long range” category, Mallon reported.

County Commission Chairman Jack Smith asked Mallon to inform state officials that the county objects to the delays and the funding cuts.

“Other than that we’re good to go,” Smith said.

Mallon said that state officials have asked counties for input on projects that are “ready to go” for inclusion in a possible federal economic stimulus package. While Fayette doesn’t have any projects that are close enough to meet the criteria, there are a handful of projects that could be handled very quickly, Mallon said.

The plan is to notify the DOT of those projects in case the state’s criteria changes, Mallon said.

It’s possible there will be a chance for resurfacing projects to be considered, he added.