Despite some apprehension from several Fayette County Commissioners, the conceptual alignment for the second phase of the West Fayetteville Bypass was approved unanimously Oct. 11.

The road alignment, which will currently result in the taking of three homes and a barn, could still be tweaked in places as county staff delves deeper into the project, said county public works director Phil Mallon.

A group of residents opposing the bypass has threatened to file a lawsuit against the county under the federal Clean Water Act in hopes of halting the project, which is being funded by a special transportation sales tax.

The commission’s approval Thursday came after a number of residents expressed opposition to the road. Among their complaints were increased traffic near homes, environmental damage and allegations that the road would chiefly benefit developers.

Commissioner Eric Maxwell said he felt the issue presented a very difficult decision and mentioned that he visited the home of Randy Blount on Lee’s Mill Road, one of the three homes that will be demolished to make room for the bypass.

“All information I have gotten leads me to believe this is the right choice, and I know that you disagree with me, but that’s the best I can do,” Maxwell told the crowd, which consisted mostly of bypass opponents.

Commissioner Herb Frady said he wished the commission didn’t have to take the action, “but I think it is very necessary to do.” He acknowledged that some residents would be unhappy but there was nothing he could do about it.

Commission Chairman Jack Smith said he too saw the need for the road.

Frady and Smith said their decision had nothing to do with the needs of developers who own undeveloped tracts of land near the bypass path. Commissioners Lee Hearn and Robert Horgan did not comment on the matter either before or after the unanimous vote to approve the bypass route.

Maxwell also cited a newspaper article from December that mentioned the bypass project was conceived in 1985.

The second phase of the bypass will start on Sandy Creek Road near the new Rivers Elementary School. From there it will actually follow a stretch of existing pavement on Sandy Creek before continuing onto a stretch of the existing Tillman Road.

The road will not follow the northwesterly turn on Tillman but instead will continue in a basically straight pattern to Eastin Road before meandering around a subdivision and continuing to cross Lee’s Mill Road just north of the private drive Mallard Creek Lane where one existing home is in its path.

From there the road goes toward the end of Janice Drive where two homes are in the road path before continuing around another subdivision and linking up with Hwy. 92 at West Bridge Road.

From that intersection, drivers can continue straight on West Bridge to reach Ga. Highway 138 in Union City to access Interstate 85. They can also go north on Hwy. 92 and take Peters Road to Hwy. 138 or take Oakley Industrial Boulevard to reach the interchange of Ga. Highway 74 and I-85.

Fayette officials are hopeful that future improvements could be made to Ga. Highway 92 to provide access to the interstate, but none are currently scheduled by the Georgia Department of Transportation.

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