Phase I Archaeological Survey for the Addition of Turn Lanes Along Bishop Farms Parkway, Oconee County, Georgia

The proposed project would consist of proposed improvements to the existing signalized intersection of State Route (SR) 53/Experiment Station Road at County Route (CR) 828/Bishop Farms Parkway, near the city of Watkinsville in Oconee County (Figure 1). The existing facility along SR 53 consists of two lanes – one in each direction – with left turn and right turn lanes onto CR 828/Bishop Farms Parkway. The existing facility along CR 828/Bishop Farms Parkway consists of two lanes – one in each direction, with lane widths that expand to become turn lanes at the intersection.

The proposed project would construct turn lanes along CR 828/Bishop Farms Parkway, as well as construct an auxiliary lane along SR 53 from the CR 828/Bishop Farms Parkway intersection, to the US 441/SR 24 southbound entrance ramp. Existing right of way (ROW) measures 80 feet on Bishop Farms Parkway and 100 feet on Experiment Station Road. The amount of any required right-of-way, and any required easements, will be determined once the proposed design has been refined.

An environmental survey area layout was provided to the GDOT Office of Environmental Services (OES) that should incorporate all possible design alternatives for the project within its boundaries (Figure 2).

The environmental survey boundary measures 661 feet in length along Bishop Farms Parkway and 882 feet in length along Experiment Station Road. The ESB also consists of existing ROW on the north side of Experiment Station Rd and 150 feet from centerline on the south side for a total width of 192 feet and existing ROW on the west side of Bishop Farms Parkway and 150 feet from centerline on the east side for a total width of 224 feet in width.