Second Addendum of Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Proposed Two Interchanges on Interstate 75, SR 7 and SR 122

Moreland Altobelli Associates, Inc (hereafter called MAAI) performed a second addendum Phase I archaeological survey of two interchanges (SR 7 and SR 122) along Interstate 75 (I-75) in September 2016. This archaeological survey was conducted to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended, implementing 36 CFR Part 800 for guidance. The survey was conducted to locate and identify archaeological resources and to assess resource significance based on National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) criteria [36CFR Part 60.4 (a-d)]. The field survey and report were completed using the Georgia Department of Transportation’s (GDOT) Environmental Procedures Manual (2010) and the Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Surveys (2014).

Project NHS00-0000-00 (762), Pl No. 0000762 is Phase II of Project NH-75-1(203), Pl No. 410500 the 13.40 mile widening of 1-75 from north of SR 133 to Cook County Line in Lowndes County, Georgia. Phase II proposes to widen 1.0 mile of SR 7 (Shiloh Road/N Valdosta Road) and 0.7 mile of SR 122 (Main Street) and reconstruct their interchanges with 1-75. The 1-75/ SR 7 Interchange, exit 22, is located approximately 4 miles northwest of the City of Valdosta, Georgia. The 1-75/ SR 122 Interchange, Exit 29, is located within the westernmost city limits of Hahira, Georgia.

Interstate 75/SR 7 (Shiloh Road/North Valdosta Road) Interchange Exit 22

The 1-75/SR 7 (Shiloh Road/North Valdosta Road) interchange, Exit 22, reconstruction would begin on Shiloh Road just east of the Frank's Creek bridge approximately 3,322 feet west of 1-75. With proposed improvements, the existing two-lane Shiloh Road would transition to and become a four-lane divided roadway with a 20-foot raised concrete median and rural 6 1/2-foot outside paved shoulders. The existing 1-75 southbound ramps constructed under Project NH 75-1(203), P.I. No. 410500 would be tied to the proposed SR 7 improvements. The project would include a new bridge over 1-75 and reconstruct the 1-75 northbound ramps as a conventional diamond interchange. The 1-75/SR 7 interchange reconstruction on SR 7 (N. Valdosta Road) would end just east of the existing signalized intersection at Coleman Road (CR 553) approximately 1953 feet east of 1-75 where the project would tie to the existing four-lane divided rural roadway with a 40-foot depressed grass median. Existing ROW along SR 7 varies between 50 and 80 feet. Existing ROW at the I-75/SR 7 intersection varies between 250 and 300 feet

Required ROW along SR 7 varies between 60 and 100 feet. Required ROW at the I-75/SR 7 intersection varies between 350 and 400 feet.

Interstate 75/SR 122 (Main Street) Interchange Exit 29

The 1-75/SR122 (Main Street) Interchange, Exit 29, reconstruction would begin on Main Street just east of the Frank's Creek bridge approximately 1782 feet west of 1-75. With proposed improvements, the existing two-lane SR 122 would transition to and become two eastbound lanes and one westbound lane separated by a variable width flush median with rural 6 1/2-foot outside paved shoulders approaching the intersection of relocated Morven Road and a proposed access road serving the parcels of land on the north side of SR 122 approximately 986 feet west of 1-75. State Route (SR) 122 would continue as a four-lane divided roadway with a 20-foot raised concrete median and rural 6 1/2-foot outside paved shoulders to the intersection of relocated Union Road approximately 1063 feet east of 1-75. State Route (SR) 122 would continue as one lane in each direction separated by a variable width flush median. The 1-75/SR122 Interchange reconstruction on Main Street ends approximately 1848 feet east of 1-75 where the project would tie to the existing two-lane rural roadway.

The project would include a new bridge over 1-75 and would reconstruct the 1-75 ramps as a conventional diamond interchange. Approximately 0.7 miles of Morven Road (CR 782) and 0.7 miles of Union Road (CR 38) would be relocated to intersect reconstructed SR 122 to provide maximum median opening spacing with the proposed 1-75 ramps while minimizing impacts to the surrounding area. Existing ROW along SR 122 is 50 feet. At the I-75/SR 122 intersection, existing ROW varies between 250 and 300 feet. Required ROW along SR 122 is 80 feet, and required ROW along Morven Road realignment is 100 feet.

The proposed project area was surveyed in 2007 by Ground Truth Research and again in 2008 when slight changes were made to the Union Road realignment (Stoops 2007, 2008). In early September 2016, MAAI archaeologist Billy McCarley reviewed the areas previously surveyed in 2007 and 2008 and determined that certain areas of the APE were not properly assessed in 2007 or 2008. Therefore, MAAI returned to the project area and surveyed all existing ROW. In addition, MAAI determined that required ROW and construction easements along Flythe Road, Shiloh Road west of Golden Oaks Drive, Shiloh Road east of Val Tec Drive, the southern portion of the Morven Road realignment, the southern portion of Union Road realignment, an unnamed road west of

Morven Road along Main Street, and the eastern portion of Main Street needed to be assessed and shovel tested. Because the original surveys in 2007 and 2008 were based on GDOT survey standards of 2007 and 2008, Ground Truth Research did not survey the Expanded Survey Corridor (ESC). Therefore, because an ESC was not required during the original survey, MAAI did not survey the ESC during this second addendum survey.

The entire project area was inspected for archaeological materials. Fifty-one negative shovel tests were performed along Flythe Road, Shiloh Road west of Golden Oaks Drive, Shiloh Road east of Val Tec Drive, the southern portion of Union Road realignment, the eastern portion of Main Street, and along the southern portion of the Morven Road realignment. No shovel tests were positive. However, one site (9LW174) was discovered on the surface along the southern portion of the Morven Road realignment. The site is a late nineteenth to early twentieth century historic scatter with a minor precontact component. Site 9LW174, which spans adjacent to Morven Road in a cultivated field, occurs completely within the APE. The site is approximately 100 m long by 20 m wide. Because the artifact scatter was identified on the surface, walking transects 5 meters apart were executed along the site to identify the extent of the artifact scatter and to collect artifacts. Then, close-interval shovel tests are performed; however, none of the shovel tests were positive for cultural materials or features. The portion of the cultivated field associated with the site was thoroughly inspected in four directions and shovel tested within and outside the APE. These methods confirmed that the site ceased inside the APE. Shovel testing within the site revealed a thick plow zone (20 cmbs) that was sterile of artifacts or features.

Because of the thick plow zone, the site appears heavily disturbed by cultivation. Because the site lacks depositional integrity and does not contain sufficient data that would lead to future research, MAAI recommends the site ineligible, and no further work is needed.