Addendum Survey of the Phase I Cultural Resources Survey of SR 38 / US 84 Widening, Clinch and Ware Counties, Georgia

The proposed project would widen and realign SR 38/US 84 through Clinch and Ware Counties, in southeast Georgia. The proposed project would begin approximately 650 feet west o the SR38/US84 Bridge over Woodyard Creek within the Homerville city limits and extend eastward to the intersection of the SR 38/US 84 and Wadley-Glenmore Avenue, west of the city limits of Waycross. The total corridor length of the proposed project is 24.4 miles (38.4 km), extending southwest to northeast from the northereastern edge of Homerville to the southwest edge of Waycross. The Phase I survey was originally performed in 2001 by New South Associates (Loubser and Swanson 2001). In 2003, New South Associates completed an addendum survey (Loubser, Edwards, and Swanson 2003). The proposed right-of-way (ROW) ranged from 200 feet to 250 feet to either side of the centerline of the proposed roadway. In areas of new location, the ROW was 250 feet. The sections of new location are located around Argyle, Ruskin, and Wahoma, GA.

 Since the 2003 addendum survey, the project has undergone footprint changes. The existing SR 38/US 84 two lane highway would be reconstructed to a four lane divided facility with a center median, except for a section of the Argyle bypass. Two roundabout intersections were added to the proposed project corridor. Roundabout No. 1 was added at the west end of the SR 38/US 84 bypass. Roundabout No. 2 was added at the east end of the Argyle bypass. The roundabout design would consist of a 200-foot inscribed circle, 24-foot driving lanes, 15-foot truck apron, and an 8-foot sidewalk. The roundabout design would allow drivers the option of traveling through the City of Argyle or by utilizing the bypass. The archaeological fieldwork for this added section was performed by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) in 2014 (McKay 2014a).

After the 2014 GDOT survey was approved, the project was let for construction. Subsequently, it was determined that a portion of the proposed roadway profile in units PI 422120 and PI 622780 was below the water table. As a result, the mainline roadway profile was raised to drain water away from the proposed roadway. In the locations where the profile was raised, modifications were made to the roadway cross sections including changes to the shoulder slopes and the addition of ditch sections. Due to these changes, the project construction limits have also changed.