Archaeological Reassessment of Project EDS-565(9), Burke-Rickmond Counties

GDOT project EDS-565(9) in Burke and Richmond counties would consist of the widening and reconstruction of US 25 from an existing two lane road into a four lane road between just south of Marchman Road north to Hepzibah. The project was originally surveyed in 1994. Since that time, between 15 and 65 feet of additional right-of-way has been added between stations 14+440 and 26+640 (7.58 miles total), where the original design required right-of-way from the west side only. Fifteen temporary easements for the construction of sediment basins have also been added near streams and wetlands along the project corridor. The current survey covers all of the additional right-of-way and sediment basins on EDS-565(9). An archaeological survey (Level II) was conducted in accordance with "GDOT/FHWA Cultural Resource Survey Guidelines" developed by the GDOT Staff Archaeologists in consultation with DNR Historic Preservation Division 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 work of proposed highway projects and are followed during the initial identification of archaeological resources. No existing or eligible National Register resources were located during the current survey within the recently revised project's area of potential environmental effect. 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.