Wednesday, September 24, 2003
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Wednesday, September 24, 2003 |
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County grumbles about TDK, Hwy. 54 delays By J. FRANK LYNCH
At this pace, it's anybody's bet which of two road projects bridging the Fayette-Coweta county line will be the first to the finish. In addition to still more delays in the Ga. Highway 54 widening, extending TDK Boulevard across Line Creek between Falcon Field and the Planterra Ridge neighborhood has yet to be started. The Peachtree City Council agreed to fund engineering change orders on the TDK Extension requested by Fayette County in early summer. An Aug. 1 deadline was set for delivery of the plans to the county. After an e-mail circulated to the local media last week suggested Peachtree City was dragging its feet again, the city's public information office issued a statement saying the construction plans were forwarded to the county level for review in early August, as promised. "Peachtree City City Engineer Troy Besseche received the plans on Aug. 1 for review," wrote Betsy Tyler, spokeswoman for the city. "Besseche said it took a bit longer than expected to review the plans and some minor changes were requested." Besseche is on vacation this week and unavailable for comment. "After the changes were made, the plans were delivered by courier to the appropriate staff members at Fayette and Coweta counties on Aug. 18," the city claims. "Staff is currently reviewing legal issues concerning right-of-way acquisition for the project." Lee Hearn, director of the county road department whose crews will build the stretch on the Fayette County side, agreed that details on right of way have been the sticking point. "The thing is all the pieces have to be in place before we even can go to the state and show them what we want to do to get the funds," he said. "As soon as we get the DOT to sign of and get us the money, we'll be out there," said Hearn. But blame for the delay in acquiring that right of way, say Hearn and others, remains with Peachtree City Mayor Steve Brown. "He's never supported it," said Hearn. "Mr. Dunn (County Commission Chairman Greg Dunn) wants me there turning dirt as soon as I can." Brown hasn't been quiet about his opposition to the extension, arguing that it will dump unwanted traffic onto already crowded two-lane Ga. Highway 74 South. City officials say the issue there is four acres of additional right of way needed for the project that's owned by Pathway Communities, previously known as Peachtree City Development Corporation and still the largest landowner in the city. A swap of four acres of city-owned property set aside for park space was proposed, but Brown nixed it. "I don't want to give up anymore of our precious park land," said Brown, adding that "a compromise" will be worked out. He blamed the DIRECT PAC political action group for stirring up the issue. Hearn said his crews are busy on other odd jobs around the county, but are set to move quickly to TDK Boulevard when they get the word. "I don't have any more projects this important," he said. "As soon as we can get down there and start working, we will." The Fayette length of the road is just three-quarters of a mile, but Coweta County must carve a whole new road out of the woodlands and is more anxious to get started. "They have a lot more work to do," Hearn said.
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