Archaeological Reassessment of Project STP00-000S-00(014), Newton County

Project STPOO-OOOS-00(014) would consist of symmetrical widening of State Route 142 bridge over 1-20 in Newton County. The project was surveyed twice, once by Rick Richardson in 1999 and once by Eric Duff in 2005 (HPD# HP980923-002). Since the original surveys, a pedestrian culvert has been added to the southern tie-in on MLK Jr. Drive. Additional area needed to construct the culvert includes 15,000 square feet (0.34 acre) of easement and 195 square feet (00.0045 acre) of right-of-way. The culvert was originally cleared by Edwards-Pitman Environmental, along with the associated trail, under TEE project P.I. No. 0008186, the Alcovy River-Eastside High School Trail (concurrence obtained on 11-7-08, TE 080523-001). Because the area was archaeologically cleared under the TEE project, no new work is needed for this undertaking. An archaeological survey (Level I) was conducted in accordance with "GDOT/FHWA Cultural Resource Survey Guidelines" developed by the GDOT Staff Archaeologists in consultation with DNR Historic Preservation Section Staff and concurred in by the Federal Highway Administration and State Historic Preservation Officer. These guidelines provide general survey boundaries and methodological approaches to archaeological surveys based on the type/scope of proposed highway projects and are followed during the initial identification of archaeological resources. By agreement, because no archaeological resources were located within the project's area of potential environmental effect, no signed concurrence from the State Historic Preservation Office is required. It is concluded, therefore, that the project will have no effect upon archaeological resources on or eligible for inclusion in the NRHP provided that the project conforms to that described above.