Politics & Government
State Expects To Begin Right Of Way Acquisition In 2018 For U.S. 441 Widening In Oconee County
GDOT officials stated repeatedly that no route has been determined for the roadway, which likely will include a bypass of Bishop.
The Georgia Department of Transportation expects to begin purchasing right of way for the widening of U.S. 441 from the Watkinsville bypass to the Madison bypass in the summer of 2018, representatives of the state agency told a gathering of about 50 citizens last Thursday night.
GDOT plans to let the project for construction in the spring of 2021, the state highway officials told the group, which included the eight members of a Sounding Board appointed by the Oconee County Board of Commissioners to provide citizen involvement in the project.
Albert Shelby III, state program delivery engineer with GDOT, who did most of the talking at the meeting, stated repeatedly that no route has been determined for the roadway, which likely will include a bypass of Bishop. Shelby said the examination of options is starting with the current roadway.
According to a fact sheet Shelby and his colleagues distributed at the meeting, the state is expecting to release a revised concept plan for the roadway next summer and to have preliminary plans completed in the spring of 2018.
For more on the story, and a complete video of the meeting, go to Oconee County Observations.
Pictured: Bishop Mayor Johnny Pritchett.