Cultural Resources Survey of the White Bluff Road Widening Corridor. Chatham County, Georgia

In June 1996 a cultural resources survey for the White Bluff Road Widening project in Chatham County, Georgia was conducted by Brockington and Associates, Inc. for Hussey, Gay, Bell, & DeYoung Environmental, Inc. The purpose of this investigation was to locate any cultural resources which might be impacted by the proposed project, to determine their significance with regard to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) criteria, and to determine the effect the proposed highway improvements may have on these resources. A cultural resources study is required to comply with cultural resources management provisions of the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). To satisfy the NEPA requirements, a cultural resource investigation was conducted in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (as amended, 1992). The project corridor encompasses 3.3 km (2.05 miles). The proposed project begins at the intersection of White Bluff and Rose Dhu Roads, extends north along White Bluff Road, and ends at the intersection of Willow and White Bluff Roads. In a segment extending north from Rose Dhu Road to a point .90 km (.56 mile) north of Daveitta Drive, White Bluff Road will continue to consist of two travel lanes. In that segment improvements will result in the addition of a center turn lane on White Bluff Road. From that point north to the end of the project, improvements will consist of widening White Bluff Road to four travel lanes with a median. Turn lanes will also be installed at selected locations in the northern four-lane portion of the project. These investigations resulted in the identification and evaluation of one archaeological site (9CH868), four isolated finds and six historic resources within the project Area of Potential Effect (Table 1). As a result of Phase II archaeological testing at 9CH868, the site is recommended NRHP ineligible. Two historic resources, CH-WB-4 and CH-WB-6, are recommended eligible for the NRHP. It is anticipated that under current design plans, implementation of the proposed project will have an adverse effect on Resource CH-WB-6. Based on the findings of these investigations, design changes are recommended to avoid impact to one NRHP eligible resource (CH-WB-6) within the Area of Potential Effect of the White Bluff Road Widening project. If design alternatives result in avoidance of adverse effects to Resource CH-WB-6, cultural resources clearance for the White Bluff Road Widening Project is recommended.