Phase I Archaeological Survey of SR 38/US 221/East Hill Avenue at CR 439/Clay Road and CS 1271/Hollywood Street Intersection Improvements, Lowndes County, Georgia

The proposed project is located approximately 4 miles east of I-75 in Valdosta in Lowndes County, Georgia. The project would consist of realigning County Road (CR) 439/Clay Road (Clay Road) to tie into City Street (CS) 1271/Hollywood Street (Hollywood Street), installing a traffic signal at this realigned intersection with State Route (SR) 38/US 84/US 221/East Hill Avenue (SR 38), and adding turn lanes on each approach except Hollywood Street. The proposed project would also incorporate bicycle facilities along SR 38 in accordance with the South Georgia Regional Development Center Bike and Pedestrian Plan. The project limits would extend approximately 729 feet west and 671 feet east of the realigned intersection on SR 38, approximately 740 feet south on Clay Road, approximately 130 feet north on Hollywood Street, and approximately 231 feet west of Clay Road on East Savannah Road. The total project length would be approximately 2,501 feet (0.47 mile).

The current intersections are unsignalized with stop sign controls on Clay Road and Hollywood Street. Clay Road currently intersects SR 38 approximately 50 feet east of Hollywood Street, creating an offset intersection. State Route 38 is an urban arterial route with four 12-foot travel lanes, curb and gutter, and no pedestrian accommodations within 80 feet of right-of-way (ROW). Clay Road is an urban collector street with two 12-foot lanes and rural shoulders within 80 feet of ROW. Hollywood Street is an urban local road with two 12-foot lanes and urban border areas within 50 feet of ROW. East Savannah Road is a local road with two 9-foot lanes and rural shoulders within 45 feet of ROW. The posted speed limit is 45 miles per hour (mph) on SR 38, 40 mph on Clay Road, 30 mph on Hollywood Street, and 25 mph on East Savannah Road.

The proposed project would realign Clay Road approximately 50 feet to the west to intersect SR 38 at the existing Hollywood Street intersection, and a traffic signal would be installed at the realigned intersection. East Savannah Road would also be realigned to tie into relocated Clay Road at an appropriate intersection skew. The proposed typical section for SR 38 would be four 12-foot travel lanes, a 12-foot eastbound and westbound left turn lane, a 12-foot eastbound and westbound right-turn lane, two 4-foot bicycle lanes, curb and gutter, and a 5-foot sidewalk on the north side within 140 feet of ROW. The proposed typical section for Hollywood Street would remain two 12-foot lanes and urban border areas with 2-foot curb and gutter within 50 feet of ROW. The proposed typical section for Clay Road would be two 12-foot lanes with a 12-foot northbound right-turn lane and 8-foot rural shoulders (4 feet paved) within variable ROW up to 170 feet in width. The proposed typical section for East Savannah Road would be two 12-foot lanes with 8-foot rural shoulders (2 feet paved) within 90 feet of ROW.