VILLA RICA, Ga. – A public information open house to discuss the Georgia DOT proposed project to construct the Villa Rica Bypass is scheduled for Thursday, July 20, 2017 from 5 until 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at Powell Park, located at 524 Leslie Drive in Villa Rica, Georgia. Carroll County’s residents interested in learning more about the proposed project are encouraged to attend the meeting and express their thoughts and preferences.
“We would like to hear the viewpoints and concerns of all area residents,” says DeWayne Comer, district engineer at the Georgia DOT office in Cartersville. “The Georgia DOT strongly believes that since this project is intended to serve the people of Villa Rican and Carroll County, the ideas and preferences of these people are important and can make a difference in our planning process,” Comer explains. “This meeting will provide the public with another opportunity to review the proposed project, ask questions, and express their preferences as well as their concerns.”
The proposed plans call for the construction of a new location roadway from the intersection of State Route (SR) 101/Industrial Boulevard with Rockmart Road to SR 61/Dallas Highway. The proposal also includes the construction of two roundabouts at the intersection of Industrial Boulevard with Rockmart Road and the intersection of the new location roadway with Dallas Highway. The length of this portion of the Villa Rica Bypass is 1.92 miles.
The Villa Rica area has been experiencing increased development pressures. As a result of growth, there is an urgent need to improve access for commuters to I-20. Currently, vehicles traveling southbound on SR 61 towards I-20 must navigate through the city of Villa Rica making several 90° turns within a short distance, and crossing the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks. SR 61 currently carries 13,000 vehicles per day (VPD), with 9% heavy vehicles. This heavy traffic on SR 61 is projected to increase to 21,000 VPD by 2035. The traffic volumes for the proposed Villa Rica Bypass are 5,900 VPD in 2016 and 14,000 in 2044. Without the bypass, these volumes would be added to the volumes on SR 61 navigating through the city of Villa Rica.
The Open House will be informal and the public is invited to attend anytime between 5 and 7 p.m. The meeting site is accessible to persons with disabilities. Accommodations for people with disabilities can be arranged with advance notice by calling David Acree at (770) 387-3619. Written statements will be accepted concerning this project until Thursday, August 3, 2017. Written statements may be submitted to:
Mr. Eric Duff, State Environmental Administrator
Georgia Department of Transportation
Office of Environmental Services
16th Floor, One Georgia Center
600 West Peachtree Street, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
The Georgia Department of Transportation is committed to providing a safe, seamless and sustainable transportation system that supports Georgia’s economy and is sensitive to both its citizens and its environment. For information on the Department of Transportation, visit http://www.dot.ga.gov. You also may like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/GeorgiaDOT-Northwest) and follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/GDOTNW).
