Politics & Government
GDOT Will Build Bishop Bypass And Widen U.S. 441 In Oconee County Without Federal Funds To Speed Up Construction
The decision moves the timetable forward so that project engineering will begin in 2019 and right of way acquisition will start in 2022.
The Georgia Department of Transportation has decided to build the bypass of Bishop and widen U.S. 441 from the Morgan County line to Watkinsville entirely with state funds, bypassing the normal processes associated with federal highway funding.
That decision moves the timetable forward so that project engineering will begin in 2019 and right of way acquisition and actual construction is now slated for 2022.
Sherry McDuffie, transportation planner, made the announcement of the change in state plans at the Wednesday morning meeting of the Madison Athens-Clarke Oconee Regional Transportation Study (MACORTS), the federally mandated urban transportation planning body.
McDuffie said the decision to use exclusively state funding was made by the state Transportation Board.
Georgia Department of Transportation Planner Kyle Mote said that, while he had no personal knowledge of the reason for the decision, he assumed it was “political.” He did not elaborate.
For more on the story, with video clips of key discussions, go to Oconee County Observations.
Pictured: Oconee County Public Works Director Emil Beshara.