Phase I Archaeological Survey Of The Proposed SR 42 Spur/McDonough Boulevard SE Bridge Over The Norfolk Southern Railroad, Fulton County, Georgia

Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) conducted a Phase I archaeological survey for the proposed bridge replacement at State Route (SR) 42 Spur/McDonough Boulevard over the Norfolk Southern Railway in Fulton County, Georgia (Georgia Department of Transportation [GDOT] P.I. No. 0011684; HP No. 140603-009). Phase I fieldwork occurred on June 16, 2015 and was completed under a contract with Heath and Lineback Engineers, Inc. EPEI’s subsequent geophysical investigation, which sought to identify historic trolley tracks, was undertaken on February 2, 2016 and was performed under a contract with New South Associates, Inc. The GDOT bridge replacement project would include the removal and replacement of the existing bridge along the existing alignment of SR 42/McDonough Boulevard, and pedestrian facilities would be upgraded to meet current American’s With Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. This report presents a record of the Phase I investigation which was conducted in order to locate and evaluate archaeological resources potentially affected by the project.

In advance of fieldwork, background research included the examination of local history and regional archaeological data in order to establish a context by which site significance could be evaluated. A review of the Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF) and Georgia’s Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information System (GNAHRGIS) indicated that one previously recorded archaeological site is located within the survey area, the Lakewood Avenue Trolley Tracks, 9FU324. A portion of these tracks north of the survey area was previously excavated by R. S. Webb and Associates (Gantt 1998), and they were recommended eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

Phase I field investigation included pedestrian survey and systematic shovel testing, which resulted in the discovery of one new archaeological site, 9FU689. Site 9FU689 is a brick and concrete wall remnant adjacent to the exiting bridge structure on its northeastern side. Concrete and pavement prevented excavations around the site. Review of historic aerials and other maps indicated the wall was associated with a now-razed twentieth century structure. As a razed twentieth century building remnant that lacks significant archaeological data potential, 9FU689 is recommended ineligible for the NRHP under Criterion D.

Additionally, EPEI conducted non-invasive geophysical investigations within the right-of-way (ROW) in order to identify historic streetcar resources buried under the pavement (Appendix A). The Lakewood Avenue Trolley Tracks, previously recorded as 9FU324, were found to be present within the survey area. However, because R. S. Webb and Associates (Gantt 1998) already performed a data recovery, 9FU324 lacks additional, non-redundant information potential and no further work is recommended. The remnants of another historic streetcar route along McDonough Boulevard were also identified that probably date to the 1920’s. However, earlier track is also Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Proposed SR 42 Spur/McDonough Boulevard ii SE Bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad, Fulton County, Georgia possibly present, and therefore a special provision is recommended for archaeological monitoring during project construction, including data recovery per the methods outlined for streetcars in the Programmatic Agreement (PA) between GDOT, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Georgia’s State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).