The proposed project would replace the existing bridge on State Route (SR) 10/United States Highway (US) 78 over the North Oconee River in the City of Athens, Georgia (Figure 1). The proposed replacement bridge would match the existing grade and would construct four, 3.7-meter (m) (12-foot [ft]) through lanes, a 3.7 m (12 ft) left turn lane, 0.6 m (2 ft) gutters, a sidewalk on the north side of the bridge, and a shared-use path on the south side of the bridge. Sidewalks located on the north side of SR 10/US 78 along the bridge approaches would be reconstructed and would vary from 1.5 to 1.98 m (5 to 6.5 ft) in width and the proposed multi-use trail on the south side of the bridge and roadway would vary in width from 3 to 4.9 m (10 to 16 ft). Existing right-of-way (ROW) varies in width throughout the project, from approximately 16 m (52.5 ft) to 37 m (121.4 ft).
In 2018, Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EP) surveyed an Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB) for this road improvement project (Pietak and Chieffo 2019). In 2021, the project limits were extended 70 m (230 ft) south along SR 10 outside of the previous survey coverage.
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