The historic resource survey of the Smyrna Road widening project in Rockdale County, Georgia, was undertaken by TRC Garrow Associates, Inc., under contract to W. L. Jorden & Company, Inc. This project, designated STP-9355(2) 752340 by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GOOT), consists of widening the road from the intersection of Klondike Road to the end at Iris Drive (Figure 1). Smyrna Road will remain on the existing alignment throughout the length of the project. All widening will occur on the east side in order to limit the right-of-way and easement requirements on the west side of the roadway. There will be an urban section on the east side and a rural section on the west side with three 12 foot (3.6 meter) lanes, two 4 foot (1.2 m) bike lanes, and a 9.8 foot (3.0 m) grassed shoulder. Sidewalks will be constructed through the length of the project on the east side of the roadway. This will require the addition of 10 feet (3.0 m) of right-of-way on the east side.
The existing Smyrna Road consists of a two-lane rural section 22 feet ( 6.7 m) wide with asphaltic- concrete paving. Deceleration lanes with curb and gutter have been constructed at various subdivisions along the project. The right-of-way is approximately 80 feet (24.4 m) wide, referenced to the center of the existing roadbed. The Area of Potential Effects (APE) for this project is identified as the area encompassing the project area plus those properties adjacent to or visually connected to the project area. Federal regulations define an APE as "the geographic area or areas within which an undertaking may cause changes in the character or use of historic properties, if any such properties exist" (36 CFR Part 800.2, "Protection of Historic Properties").
The Senior Preservation Planner conducted the historic resource survey June 27, 1997. One historic resource considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places was identified in the project APE. Two ineligible resources were also identified in the APE.
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