Archaeological Assessment of Project EDS-460(1), Bartow, Cherokee, and Forsyth Counties

The proposed project would construct on new location a connector between 1-75 in Bartow County and S.R.371 in Forsyth County. The proposed project consists of two alternate routes. Alternate A would begin at the proposed U.S.411/I-75 interchange in Bartow County then would extend easterly along new location to its terminus at the proposed S.R.371 interchange in Forsyth County. Additional interchanges would be provided at S.R.108, S.R.5/I-575, S.R.140, East Cherokee Drive, and S.R.372. Alternate A-2 would bypass the city of Canton to the south. As proposed Alternate A-2 would begin at a point just west of Brooks Drive then would extend southeasterly to a point southeast of Bells Ferry Road. From this point Alternate A-2 would extend easterly to a point northeast of C.R.328 where the proposed route would turn and extend northerly before tying back into Alternate A at the proposed S.R.140 interchange. Additional interchanges would be provided at S.R.20 and 1-575 south of Canton. Required rights-of-way for both alternates would be approximately 400 feet. An archaeological survey consistent with the proposed rights-of-way was surveyed for the entire 32 mile length of Alternate A and 6.3 mile segment of Alternate A-2. An archaeological survey (Level III) 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. No significant archaeological resources were located within the proposed project corridor as described in paragraph two above. It is concluded, therefore, that the project will not affect.