The proposed project would replace the State Route (SR) 385/United States (US) 441 Business (SR 385) bridge, Structure ID 137-0006-0, over Hazel Creek in the city of Demorest, Georgia. The project length would be approximately 0.45 kilometers (km) (0.28 mile [mi]). The existing bridge was built in 1925 and widened in 1970. The existing bridge is approximately 50.3 meters (m) (165 feet [ft]) long, and 17 m (56 ft) wide with two 3.7 m (12 ft) travel lanes, one 4.3 m (14 ft) center left-turn lane, 0.6 m (2 ft) gutters, and 1.8 m (6 ft) sidewalks. The existing SR 385 roadway typical section consists of two 3.7 m (12 ft) travel lanes, a 4.3 m (14 ft) center left-turn lane, and 3 m (10 ft) shoulders with 1.5 m (5 ft) sidewalks within 18.3 m (60 ft) of existing right-of-way (ROW). The existing design speed is 35 miles per hour (mph) (56 kilometers per hour [kph]).
The proposed bridge would be approximately 72.2 m (237 ft) long and 17 m (56 ft) wide and would include two 3.7 m (12 ft) travel lanes, a 4.3 m (14 ft) center left-turn lane, 0.6 m (2 ft) gutters, and 1.7 m (5.5 ft) sidewalks. The proposed SR 385 roadway would consist of two 3.7m (12 ft) travel lanes, a 4.3 m (14 ft) center left-turn lane, and 3 m (10 ft) shoulders with 0.8 m (2.5 ft) curb and gutter and 6-foot sidewalks within 30.5 m (100 ft) to 47.2 m (155 ft) of ROW. Easements up to approximately 6 m (20 ft) in width would be required on the east side of SR 385 to allow for driveway and slope construction. Demolition easements up to approximately 19.8 m (65 ft) in width would be required on the east side of SR 385 to allow for the demolition of two businesses. Displacement of two businesses may require the acquisition of two parcels that extend a maximum of approximately 48.2 m (158 ft) east of the proposed ROW. The proposed design speed would remain 35 mph (56 kph). Traffic would be maintained on-site, and the bridge would be constructed in stages.
In 2018 Edwards-Pitman (EP) initially surveyed an environmental Survey Boundary (ESB) that was provided by to Edwards-Pitman, Inc. (EP) from Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Design Engineers (Kosalko 2018). Later, as the project's design progressed, portions of the Area of Potential Effect (APE) extended beyond the original survey coverage (Kosalko 2018), which required an addendum survey. EP conducted the addendum survey in 2019 that utilized an Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB), per guidance from the GDOT Office of Environmental Services (OES), to cover the portion of the APE that extended beyond the limits of the previous survey (Campbell 2019). The plans were further developed, and in 2021 the latest plans included areas of the current APE which exceeded the combined two previous surveys of Kosalko (2018) and Campbell (2019), which constitute the previous survey coverage. Description of Project Design Changes from the September 24, 2019 plans to the June 11, 2021 plans are as follows:
• Inclusion of Remnant Parcel 14R – identified on June 2 negotiations
• Adjustment of the required ROW limits on Demorest Lake Road from 40+65 to 40+90
• Adjustment to the drainage structure on the northwestern corner of the bridge near the riprap
• Additional easement for the demolition of the car wash on Parcel 11
• A full parcel take for Parcel 14
• Inclusion of Orange Barrier Fence (OBF) around environmentally sensitive areas
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