Phase I Archaeological Survey of SR 81 at Racetrack Road, Henry County, Georgia

The proposed project would improve the intersection of SR 81 at Racetrack Road. The alignment of Racetrack Road would be shifted to the west to create a more desirable 84 degree intersection with SR 81, the current skew is 40 degrees. Twelve-foot wide left and right turn lanes would be added to SR 81. Travel lanes on Racetrack Road would be widened to 12-feet, and a 12-foot wide right turn lane would be added. In addition 12 feet of additional pavement for a future thru lane would be constructed. The project length along SR 81 would be approximately 2,900 feet (0.55 mile) and approximately 1,070 (0.20 mile) feet on Racetrack Road. The project would increase by approximately 1,785 feet on SR 81 due primarily to extending the project length on SR 81 west of Racetrack Road. There would be no change in project length on Racetrack Road. The amount of proposed right-of-way, permanent easement, and temporary driveway easement would decrease from approximately 4.90 acres to approximately 4.00 acres, due to decreased impacts because of the change to an urban shoulder, elimination of a sediment basin and shifting the location of the alignment of Racetrack Road with SR 81. The new location of Racetrack Road would be approximately 250 feet west, centerline to centerline, of the existing alignment. Previously, Racetrack Road was shifted approximately 375 feet, centerline to centerline, to the west. Other changes include new curb and gutter, grass strip, and new five-foot wide sidewalks on both sides of SR 81 west of Racetrack Road, and on both sides of Racetrack Road, Steeplechase Drive, and Churchill Drive. New driveway accesses would be constructed on SR 81 at approximately Stations 8+50, 13+00, 16+75, and 21+50 directly across from the realigned Racetrack Road. A new driveway access would also be constructed at Station 65+75 on Racetrack Road. The sediment pond at the southwest quadrant of SR 81 and Racetrack Road has been removed.