GAINESVILLE - Plans are moving forward to widen an approximately seven mile section of Highway 129 or Athens Highway in Hall County, making the entire route, between Gainesville and Athens, a divided four-lane highway.
The remaining two-lane stretch is between Gillsville Highway and the Pendergrass Bypass.
The project is in the right-of-way purchase process, according to Georgia Department of Transportation Northeast Georgia
Communications Officer Teri Pope.
Communications Officer Teri Pope.
"We almost have that finished up. Right now the project is scheduled to let for bid in January of next year. If we award it to a contractor then construction could begin in the spring of next year."
Pope said the project could take between two and a half to three years to complete.
"We'll have a firm timeline once we award it to contractors," Pope said.
She said typically crews build the two new lanes parallel to the existing road, then shift traffic to the new lanes while work is being done on the original lanes.
DOT is hosting an open house on the project next Thursday evening at Sugar Hill Elementary School.
"It's (the project) been in the works for about eight years now, but we haven't shown the community what's happening in about four years, so we want folks to make sure and know what the plan is," Pope said.
When: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, August 27
Where: Sugar Hill Elementary School Gym located at 3259 Athens Highway in Gainesville
Who: Georgia DOT Engineers and consultants will be available to discuss the proposal. There will not be a formal presentation during the open house.
Written statements can be submitted until September 7 to:
Ms. Hiral Patel, P.E.
State Environmental Administrator
Georgia Department of Transportation
600 West Peachtree Street, NW – 16th Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
After the open house, you can view the display of the project at the Georgia DOT District Office located at 2205 Athens Highway in Gainesville. Project information will also available after the Open House Meeting on the Georgia DOT website.
Written statements can be submitted until September 7 to:
Ms. Hiral Patel, P.E.
State Environmental Administrator
Georgia Department of Transportation
600 West Peachtree Street, NW – 16th Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
After the open house, you can view the display of the project at the Georgia DOT District Office located at 2205 Athens Highway in Gainesville. Project information will also available after the Open House Meeting on the Georgia DOT website.
