GDOT Proceeding With U.S. 441 Widening And Bypass Of Bishop

The Georgia Department of Transportation has decided to move forward with the planned widening of U.S. 441 to four lanes along the existing route from Madison to Bishop.

It also is proceeding with plans for a truck bypass of Bishop, calling it the “more appealing alternative for localized traffic in the area.”

GDOT says, however, it is “still evaluating the design and impacts” of the truck bypass on the east side of Bishop.

The announcement of a decision on the widening of U.S. 441 from Madison to Bishop and of the bypass of Bishop to link up to the U.S. 441 bypass of Watkinsville came in a letter dated Aug. 26 but sent to those who had made comments on the roadway design only Monday.

The 10-page letter from Eric Duff, state environmental administrator with GDOT, said that 270 people attended the Open Houses that GDOT held in Morgan and Oconee Counties last March and that GDOT received 180 formal comments.

The level of support for the proposal varied by roadway segment, the GDOT letter states.

The widening of U.S. 441 to four lanes along the existing route received more comments in support than in opposition, according to Duff’s letter.

The proposed two-lane truck bypass on the east side of Bishop received support from 36 persons and conditional support from another 19 persons. Sixty-eight comments were in opposition to the plan, Duff wrote, and 1 person did not commit.

For more details regarding the GDOT decision, please go to Oconee County Observations.