Phase I Archaeological Resources Survey for the Proposed Bridge Replacement at State Route 198 over Interstate Highway 85, Franklin County, Georgia

The proposed project would consist of replacing the existing bridge carrying State Route (SR) 198 over Interstate 85 (I-85) in Franklin County, Georgia. The existing bridge (Structure 10 11 9-0024-0) was constructed in 1962 and has a sufficiency rating of 62.1. This bridge consists of four spans of steel beams on concrete caps with concrete columns. The existing typical section for SR 198 consists of two 12-foot travel lanes with rural shoulders and a posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour. This project is in preliminary concept phase and the proposed typical section has not yet been determined. The existing right-of-way (ROW) is 60 feet(ft), and the proposed ROW would be determined as project plans develop. Traffic would be maintained on an off-site detour during construction.

                For the purposes of this project, the project APE is defined as the total length and width of the environmental survey boundary (ESB). The dimensions of the project ESB are determined prior to fieldwork and are designed to capture a large enough area within which variations in project design can occur. The length of the project ESB has been defined as extending along SR 198 approximately 320 meters (m) (1,050ft) north and 320 m (1,050ft) south of the I-85 centerline for a total distance of 640 m (2,100ft). The total width of the project ESB measures approximately 340ft (104 m) (170ft [52 m] along either side of the existing SR 198 centerline). As the limits of the project ESB are anticipated to cover all possible design alternatives, no expanded survey corridor (ESC) is required for this project. The project ESB will be referred to herein as the project survey area and encompasses approximately 18.5 acres.