Addendum to the Phase I Archaeological Survey of SR 40 from Folkston to Milepost 2.54

The proposed project was field surveyed for historic properties, in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and amendments thereto. The survey boundary and methodology were established using the GDOT/FHWA Cultural Resource Survey Guidelines. These guidelines were established as a result of past interaction between the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the State Historic Preservation Officer and his staff and were agreed upon by the Federal Highway Administration and the State. The proposed project is one of several projects on State Route (SR) 40/Okefenokee Parkway between the City of Folkston (Charlton County) and the City of Kingsland (Camden County). As originally proposed, the project would have begun on SR 40 in the center of Folkston and utilized a one-way pair roadway eastward to its intersection with SR 40 Connector/Indian Trail and then a fourlane, divided roadway section to its eastern terminus at completed GDOT Project STP-141-1(10), P.I. 522350, Charlton County. However, initial historic resource identification efforts and correspondence received from consulting parties through the Section 106 notification process indicated the likelihood of multiple National Register-listed or potentially eligible properties or a potentially eligible historic district within the project area of the original one-way pair alternatives and the likelihood of adverse impacts to such resources. These resources included the National Register-listed Charlton County Courthouse in downtown Folkston and contiguous historic properties comprising commercial, religious, and municipal buildings, and houses. Thus, partially based on these historic resource identification efforts, a new alternative was developed. The new alternative proposed that the project begin on the north side of Folkston at the intersection of SR 15/US 1 with SR 40 Connector/Indian Trail. Beginning at the intersection with SR 15/US 1, the existing two-lane SR 40 Connector/Indian Trail roadway would be widened to a five-lane section and would be slightly realigned to provide additional traffic capacity through Folkston between SR 40 and SR 15/US 1. At the eastern end of SR 40 Connector/Indian Trail, the alignment would widen to a four-lane section with a 32-foot grassed median prior to turning eastward onto the existing SR 40 corridor. The improved SR 40 Connector/Indian Trail roadway would then be designated as the primary SR 40 route into Folkston, and the current SR 40 corridor between downtown Folkston and its intersection with SR 40 Connector/Indian Trail would be designated as SR 40 Business. The existing SR 40 corridor east of its intersection with SR 40 Connector/Indian Trail is a rural two-lane section. The proposed project would construct two additional travel lanes with a 32-foot depressed median. This four-lane section would extend to Mile Post 2.54 (south of CR 82) in Charlton County. This eastern terminus for the proposed project would tie into completed GDOT Project STP-141-1(10), P.I. 522350, Charlton County. The project has been further refined and the SR 40 Connector/Indian Trail widening has been removed from the preferred alternative. As currently proposed, the project would begin at the intersection of SR 40 with SR 40 Connector/Indian Trail and widen the existing two-lane SR 40 corridor from this intersection east to Mile Post 2.54 (south of CR 82) in Charlton County. This eastern terminus for the proposed project would tie into completed GDOT Project STP-141-1(10), P.I. 522350, Charlton County. The existing SR 40 corridor east of its intersection with SR 40 Connector/Indian Trail is a rural two-lane section; the proposed project would construct two additional travel lanes with a 32-foot depressed median. West of the SR 40 Connector/Indian Trail intersection, the proposed roadway would taper back to the existing two-lane section. The western terminus of the proposed project would be approximately 1050 feet west of SR 40's intersection with SR 40 Connector/Indian Trail.