Assessment of Effects for the Reconstruction of SR 34/54, Coweta/Fayette Counties, Georgia

GDOT projects STP-164-1(30), BHF-164-1(31), and BRF-164-1(32) in Coweta/Fayette Counties are federally funded. Therefore, Section 106 compliance is being processed through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). However, the Federal Highway Administration (FWHA) authorized preliminary engineering (PE) on February 26, 1991 allowing the department to conduct environmental studies with federal funds and preserve the option of implementing the projects with federal funds in the future. Therefore, Section 106 compliance is being processed through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

Project STP-064-1(30) would consist of the widening and reconstruction of SR 34/54 from just west of Fischer Road in Coweta County easterly to SR 74 in Peachtree City, Fayette County. The existing two-lane rural roadway with shoulders and open ditches will be widened and reconstructed to a four-lane urban roadway with curb, gutter, and sidewalk separated by a 44-foot wide depressed grass median. The existing right-of-way on SR 34/54 varies between 100 to 130 feet throughout the length of the project corridor. Required right-of-way needed for implementation of the project construction is variable, but reaches a maximum of 260 feet. As part of the widening of SR 34/54, project BHF-164-1 (31) would widen the existing bridge over Line Creek and project BRF-164-1(32) would widen the existing bridge over the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad to accommodate the mainline reconstruction. The total length of the proposed projects is approximately 2.25 miles (Figure 1).

As defined in 36 CFR 800.16( d), the area of potential effects (APE) of an undertaking is defined as "the geographic area or areas within which an undertaking may directly or indirectly cause changes in the character or use of historic properties, if any such properties exist". Based on this definition, the nature and scope of the undertaking, the guidance in the GDOT/FHWA Cultural Resource Survey Guidelines and past experience with similar projects, the Department has evaluated and defined the APE for these proposed projects. Because of the nature of the undertaking, the APE is limited to the proposed right-of-way and viewshed, within which all construction and ground disturbing activity would be confined. No potential for indirect effects is anticipated by implementation of the proposed projects. The projects would only increase the capacity of the existing roadway to meet anticipated future demand.