Report of Phase I Archaeological Resources Survey GDOT Project No. HPP-0000-00(345) GDOT P.I. No. 0000345 Proposed S.R. 307 Overpass Chatham County, Georgia

As part of the site development program at the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) James D. Mason Intermodal Facility in Savannah, an overpass bridge spanning proposed rail improvements at the facility has been proposed. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has indicated that an Environmental Assessment (EA), consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) will be required for the overpass at the subject site. A Phase I cultural resource survey is a required component of the NEPA mandated environmental assessment.

With the exception of the westernmost 1400ft (430m) segment of the project corridor, the entire project area was the focus of a cultural resource survey conducted in 1997 as part of the overall site development program at the James D. Mason Intermodal Facility. R.S. Webb & Associates conducted the 1997 survey. Additionally, Southeastern Archaeological Services, Inc. under contract for the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), conducted an intensive cultural resource survey northeast of the project area in 1994. Data gathered by these surveys has been extrapolated and incorporated into the current survey at the request of the GPA. The survey conducted by R. S. Webb & Associates identified two cultural resources. These cultural resources are located outside the project corridor and are obscured visually by an existing tree line. Therefore, they are not considered with the project's area of potential effect (APE).

Inspection of exposed ground surfaces, profiling of specific drainage ditches, and landscape scanning for standing structures was conducted in the project area. The present survey identified one historic resource, the Savannah to Atlanta Railroad, which bisects the project area from north to south. Since the project will provide a grade separation for S.R. 307 over the railroad, there will be no adverse effect on this resource.