Addendum to the Archaeological Survey of the Proposed Big Indian Creek Bridge Replacement, Morgan County, Georgia

On August 16, 2010, field staff from Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) conducted additional archaeological investigations for the Georgia Department of Transportation's (GDOT) Project CSBRG-0007-00(395), which consists of replacing the structurally deficient, existing bridge on County Route (CR) 23 over Big Indian Creek in Morgan County, Georgia. Since the original survey was conducted, the Area of Potential Effect (APE) has been extended beyond its original footprint for required drainage features. The following is the project description included in EPEI's original report for this project: The proposed project would consist of replacing the structurally deficient bridge located on County Route (CR) 23/Davis Academy Road over Big Indian Creek in Morgan County. The proposed bridge would be 140 feet long and 30 feet wide. The project would include new paving that would begin approximately 250 feet west of the existing bridge and would end approximately 250 feet east of the existing bridge. Existing right-of-way (ROW) varies from 80 feet to approximately 95 feet and proposed ROW would be approximately 120 feet. Since that time, the following revisions to the proposed project, based on design plans received August 5, 2010, have been made: The proposed project length has been reduced to 1,543 feet. The ROW is at the existing width except for two small areas where ROW is required for drainage features. Required easements are 140 feet at the widest point. The amount of required ROW has been reduced from 0.11 acres to 0.04 acres. The amount of permanent easement has been reduced from 1.11 acres to 0.80 acres. The proposed bridge length has been reduced from 140 feet to 117 feet. The proposed bridge width has been reduced from 30 feet to 28 feet. A review of the Georgia Archaeological Site Files (GASF) at the University of Georgia in Athens at the time of the original survey showed that one previously identified archaeological site, 9MG21, was reported in the proposed APE (Figure 1). Two phases of survey work in the vicinity of the site have been undertaken by EPEI and no evidence of 9MG21 has been found. Therefore, it is recommended the project be allowed to proceed as planned within the current, 2010 APE. However, it is also recommended that the reported location of 9MG21 be marked as an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) during construction activities so that the site is protected. In addition, during the 2008 work, a previously unidentified site, 9MG669 was found east of Big Indian Creek. The portion within the APE was recommended as non-contributing to its overall eligibility, which remains unknown as it has not been fully delineated. The 2010 redesign was not undertaken in the vicinity of this site, so its boundary remains unaffected though they should be mark as an ESA prior to construction. Details regarding EPEI's 2008 and 2010 work and the boundaries of 9MG21 are described below.