Archaeological Reevaluation: Ponce de Leon Ave./Scott Blvd. Sidewalk Improvements

The proposed project would consist of sidewalk improvements to SR 8, Ponce de Leon Avenue, in DeKalb, County. This would include the addition of 5-foot sidewalks, a 2-foot grassed or stamped strip, and curb and gutter (where not already present) along both sides of the roadway from its intersection with Moreland Avenue/Briarcliff Road to its intersection with Medlock Road/North Decatur Road. In areas where there is existing sidewalk, the sidewalk would be replaced if it is in poor condition or substandard. The need for drainage improvements will be identified and improvements made, where necessary. The majority of these improvements would be confined to existing right-of-way on both sides of the road.

Due to insufficient funding for the construction of sidewalks along the approximately 3.15-mile (5 km) corridor between Moreland Avenue and approximately North Decatur Road, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) subsequently reduced the project limits to 0.9 mile (1.4 km). The revised project limits include the approximately 0.64-mile (1.02 km) portion of the corridor between the eastern terminus of South Ponce de Leon Avenue at Dellwood Park (where sidewalks currently terminate on the north side of SR 8) and North Ponce de Leon Avenue at the east end of Deepdene Park. This also includes a 124-foot (37.8 m) by 12-foot (3.6 m) corridor in a grass traffic island at the intersection of SR 8, Ponce de Leon Avenue, and East Lake Drive and a 0.26-mile (0.4 km) section on the southeast side of Scott Boulevard between Garden Lane and Westchester Drive.

The sidewalks would be confined to the existing right-of-way (ROW), which ranges from 12-feet (3.6 m) to 25-feet (7.62 m) in width. However, a narrow strip of temporary construction easement would be needed west of Deepdene Park for construction equipment staging and the temporary placement of excavated soil from the project corridor. The proposed sidewalk would be confined to the areas of the project corridor outside of Deepdene Park. In addition, an approximately 0.5-mile (0.80 km) long asphalt pedestrian trail would be constructed along the southern periphery of Deepdene Park (bounded to the east and west by North Ponce de Leon Avenue). The proposed project ties into and is consistent with the Deepdene Park Phase IV Improvements Project (TEE-0008-00(115), DeKalb County, P.l. No. 0008115), which includes two 1 0-foot (3.05 m) wide paved asphalt circular paths, one at the eastern end of the park and one at the western end of the park, which would serve as entryways to the park from the surrounding Druid Hills neighborhoods.