Addendum to the Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Proposed New Interchange at I-95 and CR 90/Bellfast 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 Belfast Keller Road, in Bryan County, Georgia [GDOT Project No. PI 0012659]. The proposed GDOT project P.I.No. 0012659 would consist of the construction of a new interchange on Interstate 95 (I-95) at Belfast Keller Road, located near the City of Richmond Hill, in Bryan County, Georgia. Along Belfast Keller Road, the proposed project would consist of the construction of a new overpass bridge over I-95 on Belfast Keller Road and roundabouts at the ramp intersections with Belfast Keller Road. The only work along I-95 will be the construction of the bridge and the tie-ins of the new ramps for the interchange. The proposed roundabouts include a 16 foot travel lane with curb and gutter, 10 foot sidewalks along the south side and 5 foot sidewalks along the north. The

Belfast Keller Road section between the roundabouts and the new bridge section includes one 12 foot lane in each direction, a 24 foot raised median, curb and gutter, 10 foot sidewalks along the south and 5 foot sidewalks along the north. The ramps include one 16 foot travel lane, 12 foot outside shoulder and 8 foot inside shoulder. Lighting and landscaping will be included in the construction of the new interchange. The length of the project along Belfast Keller Road is approximately 1.98 miles. The existing right-of-way (ROW) along Belfast Keller Road is approximately 100 foot wide for the majority of the project corridor. The proposed ROW along

Belfast Keller Road would range from 100 foot to 165 foot or 50 foot to 115 foot along each side of the proposed centerline. The proposed beginning point along I-95 is approximately 1.43 miles south of Belfast Keller with the end point being approximately 1.43 miles to the north. Four exit sign locations have been added to the project area for this report submittal. Two northern sign locations will be placed along the western ROW of I-95 at both the mile and half mile southbound exit approach locations. Two southern sign locations will be placed along the eastern ROW of I-95 at both the mile and half mile northbound exit approach locations. Along Belfast Keller Road the beginning point is approximately 0.96 miles to the west of I-95 and the end point being approximately 1.02 miles to the east. The proposed project area consists of approximately 230-acres in area and is approximately 1.98 miles in length along Belfast Keller Road and 2.87 miles in length along I-95. The total disturbed acreage is 31 acres and the approximate midpoint of the project is Latitude 31.864121 and Longitude -81.336482.

The original Area of Potential Effect (APE) did not take into account the areas where approaching signage would be placed for the exit ramps. The engineers for the project added these areas to the APE therefore triggering a reevaluation of the expanded APE. In November

2015, additional Phase I archaeological survey work was conducted in the expanded APE to include those areas where proposed signage will be placed approaching the exit ramps. For the purpose of the Phase I archaeological investigations, the survey area includes the APE which includes all existing and required right-of-way (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 initial survey, a total of

1210 shovel tests were dug, and five archaeological sites and four isolated finds were recorded.

The survey work performed in the extended APE included an additional 84 shovel tests along the corridor for the proposed signage. Those shovel test produced negative finds while other test areas were located in wetlands and No Digs were recorded. As a result of the survey, no archaeological sites, isolated artifacts or historic structural remains were encountered. It is the opinion of ESI, that the proposed interchange at I-95 and Belfast Keller Road survey area does not contain significant cultural resources. None of the five previously recorded sites identified during the original survey meets the eligibility criteria to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). 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.