Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Proposed New Interchange at I-95 and CR 90/Belfast Keller Road, Bryan County, Georgia

In December 2012, and between May 20 and August 4, 2014, Environmental Services, Inc. (ESI) conducted a Phase I archaeological survey of the Proposed Interchange at I-95 and CR 90/ Belfast Keller Road, Bryan County, Georgia [GDOT Project No. PI 0012659]. The proposed project involves the construction of a new interchange at I-95 and CR90/Belfast Keller Road in Bryan County, Georgia. Construction along I-95 would consist of adding ramp termini and construction of bridge piers. Along Belfast Keller, the road would be widened to a four-lane facility with two-lanes in each direction. The existing bridge over I-95 would be replaced with a wider bridge. For the purpose of the Phase I archaeological investigations, the survey area includes the Area of Potential Effect (APE) which includes all required ROW and easements for the corridor plus a 100-foot (30.5 m) Expanded Survey Corridor (ESC) in accordance with the GDOT Environmental Procedures Manual (EPM). The field investigation consisted of a thorough pedestrian inspection of exposed ground surfaces (>75 %), coupled with subsurface testing at 30 meter intervals. The work for this survey was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (36 CFR 800). As a result of the survey, a total of 1210 shovel tests were dug, and five archaeological sites and four isolated finds were recorded. In the opinion of ESI, the proposed interchange at I-95 and Belfast Keller Road survey area does not contain significant cultural resources. None of the five newly recorded sites meets the criteria for NRHP eligibility. It is therefore recommended that no further archaeological studies are necessary based upon the information contained within this report. We recommend that the interchange project be allowed to proceed as planned without further management consideration to archaeological resources.