The second phase of the West Fayetteville Bypass won’t be under construction until around January 2011, according to the latest timeline of the project compiled by county transportation officials.

Transportation Engineer Carlos Christian told the Fayette County Commission at its workshop meeting last week that if the schedule holds, Phase II of the new two-lane road won’t be completed until October 2012.

The next phase of the design process is underway by county consulting engineer Mallett and Associates, Christian said. The design work will address what types of intersection improvements are needed for this phase of the bypass, he added.

Christian said if the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approval process is shorter than planned, it could reduce the completion date by approximately five months. The Corps of Engineers has to approve the various stream crossings that would be generated by the route and the county’s plan to purchase wetland mitigation credits to compensate for any damage created by the road.

“Is there any way we can speed this up?” Commission Chairman Jack Smith asked.

Christian said he wanted the commission to be made aware of how the schedule will likely unfold, but staff would continue to work to find time savings in other ways.

“Don’t forget we really intend to get moving forward with the third phase and are interested in getting that alignment set,” Smith said. “We don’t want that to drop off your grid while you’re doing this.”

Commissioner Lee Hearn, former director of Fayette County’s public works department, said the key to speeding up the timeline is working closely with the Corps of Engineers.

Hearn also suggested that the project be broken up into different phases in an effort to speed progress.

Hearn also suggested that the county “break up” the bypass into several sections for the purpose of allowing local grading companies to bid on the work, since most if not all of those companies couldn’t bid for the entire project due to its size.

Hearn said it would be good if the county could use local firms to handle that work given the bleak economy.

A group of citizens opposing the road, the West Fayetteville Bypass Coalition, has indicated it may file a federal lawsuit under the Clean Water Act in an effort to stop the road.

The current road alignment, approved June 18 by the county commission, will result in the elimination of three existing homes and one barn. But that could change in coming months as the county delves deeper into engineering specifics for the road path, officials have said.

County officials contend the road is needed to alleviate traffic congestion already occurring in Fayetteville and to accommodate future traffic “without further impacting the character” of existing county roads.

Critics contend that existing roads can be widened to create a bypass, but the county contends a direct route is necessary for the goal of routing traffic around Fayetteville to be accomplished.

One big change has already happened: The county ditched plans to acquire rights of way wide enough for four lanes. Instead, the entire road — now dubbed a “parkway” instead of “bypass” — will be two lanes.

The project is in three phases:

• Phase I (Lester Road to Sandy Creek Road, 1.6 miles) at an estimated cost of $6.3 million.

• Phase II (Sandy Creek Road to West Bridge Road, 4.6 miles) at an estimated cost of $12 million.

• Phase III (Harp Road to Lester Road, 4.0 to 4.5 miles) currently has no cost estimate.

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