Phase I Archaeological Survey of Lower Fayetteville Road From Greison Trail to Lora Smith Road, Coweta County, Georgia

In February of 2021, Edwards-Pitman, Inc. (EP) completed a Phase I archaeological survey for the proposed widening of the Lower Fayetteville Road in Newnan, Coweta County, Georgia. The project was conducted for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) (P.I. No. 0016052) under a contract with Heath and Lineback Engineers, Incorporated (H&L). EP’s archaeological survey was completed in accordance with GDOT’s Environmental Procedures Manual (EPM) (2013), the Georgia State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (1966, as amended through 2016) and its implementing regulations (36 CFR Part 800), and follows the standards set forth in the Georgia Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations (Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists [GCPA] 2019).

The proposed project would widen Lower Fayetteville Road from two lanes to three and four lane sections, and improve existing intersections with several different designs, all to improve operational efficiency along the corridor. The existing typical section consists of two 3.05 to 3.35-meter (m) (10 to 11-foot [ft]) travel lanes (one in each direction) with left and right turn lanes of varying lengths throughout the corridor. Intersections control and operation are a mix of roundabouts, right-in/right-out (RIRO), signalized, and stop controlled. The existing right-of-way (ROW) along the corridor ranges from approximately 19.8 to 57.9 m (65 to 190 ft), with a posted speed limit along the project corridor is 72.4 kilometers (km) (45 miles [mi]) per hour.

The proposed project would construct a three-lane typical section between Greison Trail/East Newnan Road and Newnan Lakes Boulevard, and a four-lane section from Newnan Lakes Boulevard to Lora Smith Road, and a mix of intersection improvements. West of Greison Trail/East Newman Road the typical section would remain a two-lane section with curb and gutter. East of Lora Smith Road, Lower Fayetteville Road would taper down to the existing two-lane typical section. The three-lane section would consist of one 3.35 m (11 ft) travel lane in each direction with a 4.3 m (14 ft) center dual left turn lane. The four-lane section would consist of two 3.35 m (11ft) lanes in each direction with a raised 6.1 m (20 ft) median, urban shoulders with curb and gutter, and 1.5 m (5 ft) sidewalks. Proposed urban shoulders along Lower Fayetteville Road would vary from 4.9 to 6.7 m (16 to 22 ft). Side streets would have either urban shoulders that vary in width between 3.05 to 4.9 m (10 to 16 ft), or rural shoulders that vary between 1.8 to 2.4 m (6 to 8 ft). Pedestrian improvements would include connecting or new sidewalks on the north side of Lower Fayetteville Road, and a shared use path on the south side of Lower Fayetteville Road. Additional improvements include replacing the existing two-lane bridge over Interstate 85 (I-85) with a new bridge on existing alignment consisting of a four lane bridge (two lanes in each direction), 6.1 m (20 ft) raised median, and sidewalk on the north side of the bridge and shared use path on the south side of the bridge to connect with those features on either side of the bridge. Stream culverts will be replaced at six crossings along the project corridor (two box culverts and four pipe culverts), as well as the pedestrian culvert conveying the LINC Multi-use Trail under Lower Fayetteville Road. Intersection enhancements would vary along the corridor that would improve operational efficiency to acceptable Levels of Service (LOS). The improvements include a mix of side street stop control, roundabouts, traffic signals, RIRO, High T configuration, and Restricted Crossing U-Turns (RCUTS). The amount of ROW and easement required for the proposed improvements has not been determined, although both are likely. The posted speed limit would remain 72.4 km (45 mi) per hour. The total project length is approximately 8.1 km (5 mi).

The survey area for the proposed project includes all areas within an Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB) provided to EP by H&L. The ESB measures approximately 8.6 km (5.3 mi) in length and between 45 and 122 m (147.6 and 400.3 ft) in width, or 86.3 hectares (ha) (213.5 acres [ac]), and is designed specifically to encompass existing and proposed ROW, temporary and permanent easements, and all areas of possible/foreseeable ground disturbance as a result of the current project. When design is complete, the project’s Area of Potential Effect (APE) will likely be smaller than the ESB that is shown, which the ESB is referred to hereafter as the survey area.

EP’s Phase I survey resulted in the identification of three newly identified sites and one previously recorded site (9CW467, 9CW468, 9CW469, and 9CW229). Site 9CW229 was previously recorded as an early twentieth century house site that was recommended as ineligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). EP’s survey resulted in the identification of surface features that extend the site boundary. Although the portion of 9CW229 within the survey area lacks integrity and significant data potential, the site was not fully delineated. As such, 9CW229 is recommended to be of unknown eligibility for the NRHP. It is recommended that unknown portions of the site are established as an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) protected by orange barrier fencing (OBF).

Site 9CW467 is a small surface scatter of nineteenth to twentieth century artifacts; as the site lacks integrity and significant data potential, it is recommended ineligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D. Site 9CW468 consists of two loci of surface features representing a former farmstead. The western locus consists of the prone body of a metal storage tank and two stone piers that were possibly its foundation. The eastern locus consists of 15 fieldstone and brick support pilings and a possible chimney base. A series of historic fence posts run along the property boundary joining the two loci. No artifacts were recovered. Due to the lack of artifacts and subsurface features, the removal of the former superstructure, and the deflated soils encountered at the site, the investigated portion of 9CW468 lacks integrity and significant data potential. As the site is not fully bound to the north due to survey limits, 9CW468 overall is of unknown eligibility under Criterion D. It is recommended that unknown portions of the site are established as an ESA protected by OBF. Site 9CW469 (Davis Family Cemetery) is a marked and maintained, inactive family cemetery with interments dating from 1853 to 1985. The area of interments situated at least 65 m (213.3 ft) outside of the survey area; it is marked by a historic stone fence and a metal gate, and measures roughly 28-x-23 m (92-x-75 ft). As the parcel on which the site is situated is deeded for the purpose of a cemetery, the site boundary consists of the entire parcel. The cemetery was recommended as eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C with a local level of significance in the areas of architecture and art as it serves as a good representative example of a rural family cemetery. As below-ground components of the resource have not been evaluated, 9CW469 is of unknown eligibility for the NRHP under Criterion D (EP 2021). It is recommended that 9CW469 be avoided, and that it be established as an ESA protected by OBF.