GAINESVILLE – Hall County Commissioners Thursday evening heard from staff about the previous day’s meeting with the Georgia Department of Transportation. GDOT’s position on a couple of questions that had arisen during the commission’s work session on Tuesday helped commissioners decide their strategy on at least one road construction project.
Public Works Director Ken Rearden reported to commissioners that if they decide to construct a 4-lane roundabout at the intersection of Ledan and Sardis Roads, none of the monies they spend on that project would be eligible for reimbursement from the state.
“We met with GDOT yesterday and they said if you do anything before (GDOT begins the Sardis Connector) it’s on your dime. None of this could be reimbursed,” Rearden said.
Commissioners on Tuesday reviewed plans for a 4-lane roundabout and hoped to recoup a portion of the $4-million price tag. GDOT’s denial of that request led to Commissioner Billy Powell making a motion to construct a scaled down 2-lane roundabout instead, something the county had considered several months ago.
The smaller sized roundabout would not require as much grading work and little or no utility relocation, hence it would cost a lot less.
Rearden told commissioners, “The price tag for that is $802,000.”
Powell’s motion was approved unanimously with one additional amendment tacked on.
Since Hall County will eventually be required to purchase the right of way for the Sardis Connector once the state begins the project, it was suggested that enough property be purchased now for the smaller roundabout so that additional property will not be need to be acquired once the state project begins in the future.
“When the (Sardis) Connector is built the DOT will then (provide) money for this intersection,” Powell said.
“As everybody knows that travels out in western Hall County this is a congested interchange and it does need some improvements,” Rearden said.
Those changes will be forthcoming but on a smaller scale than considered earlier in the week.
Rearden also reported to commissioners that during his meeting with GDOT on Wednesday the state agency agreed to re-evaluate the location of Exit 14 off I-985.
“We also talked about Exit 14 and they support the county’s effort to perform a corridor study to determine the best connection from Exit 14 to State Route 53,” Rearden said. Tuesday’s work session included an abundance of concern and opposition from area residents to plans to connect exiting traffic from the Interstate onto Martin Road.
Further detailing the meeting with GDOT, Rearden added that the county was given approval to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Spout Springs Road and the Lake Sterling Boulevard.
That news led Commissioner Powell to ask that a study be done regarding the installation of a traffic light at the main entrance to Cresswind at Lake Lanier subdivision along Browns Bridge Road.
“When built out it’s going to be 950 homes…and they’re at 623 homes, I believe,” Powell explained. “And it’s tough to get out of there turning left to go toward Gainesville.”
“I would like to help facilitate the possibility of a signal at that intersection,” Powell said. The traffic study will be a part of the commissioners’ next meeting.
SURPRISE WITHDRAWAL
Commissioner Kathy Cooper informed the board (and the large contingent of area residents in the audience present to comment on a rezoning request) that JH Homes decided moments prior to the start of the meeting that he wanted to withdraw his rezoning request for a 25-acre subdivision along Conner Road.
The request had been tabled and had also been changed several times during its lifespan. According to Cooper the developer was tired of fighting the opposition to his planned subdivision.
“The withdrawal came at 2:30 this afternoon. Everybody was prepared to be here and voice their opinions, and the listing agent did not know that it had been withdrawn, so she felt like she was left out in the cold,” Cooper explained.
“He worked as hard as he could to make it work. I tried to help him as much as I could. It just didn’t work,” Cooper said. “He’s frustrated.”
“There were a lot of variables on that property that couldn’t work to do what he needed to do.”
