On May 13 and May 30, 2019, Edwards-Pitman, Inc. (EP) conducted a Phase I archaeological survey for a proposed bridge replacement at County Road (CR) 35/Bethesda Church Road over Indian Creek in Carroll County, under Georgia Department of Transportation's (GDOT's) Low Impact Bridge Program (UBP). EP's archaeology work was completed under a contract with HNTB Corporation.
The proposed project is a bridge replacement of Structure ID 045-5007-0, CR 35/Bethesda Church Road at Indian Creek in Carroll County. This bridge is deficient and requires posting due to cracking in the beams, and spans one and five have shifted I inch (in) (2.5 centimeters [cm]). The proposed replacement work would occur within existing right-of-way (ROW). Existing ROW on CR 35/Bethesda Church Road is approximately 80 feet (ft) (24.4 meters [m]).
The Phase I archaeological survey covered an Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB) defined as a 150 ft (45.7 m) wide area (75 ft [22.9 m] up- and downstream of the centerline) that extended longitudinally 500 ft (152.4 m) from the existing bridge in both directions, in accordance with the LTBP manual (GDOT 2019). The ESB is approximately 150 ft (45.7 m) wide and 1,000 ft (304.8 m) in length. The project area of potential effect (APE) has not yet been determined, but it will likely be smaller than the ESB that was surveyed.
Prior to survey, a search of the Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF) and Georgia's Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information System (GNAHRGJS) indicated there was one previously recorded archaeological site within I-kilometer (km) (0.6 mile [mi]) of the project area. Based on the site's provided UTM location, it was initially assumed to fall outside of the current survey's ESB. However, the site's GNAHRGTS boundary does in fact intersect a portion of the northwestern project ESB. Site 9CL98's site form has very limited information. It does not indicate what type of site it is or what temporal components are present. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) recommendation is also not indicated on the site form. It does not provide a map, but it refers to one.
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