Archaeological Survey of Proposed Widening of U.S. Highway 23 (State Route 87), Dodge and Bleckley Counties, Georgia. Fifth Addendum

The proposed project would be approximately 1.9 miles north of the Eastman City limits along US 23/SR 87 just south of the CR 348/Antioch Church Road (Figure 1). The project would tie into the existing three lane rural section and transition to a four lane rural section with a 14-foot flush media northward widening symmetrically for approximately 0.117 mile on existing alignment. The four lane, 14-foot flush median typical section would then transition to the southwestern side of the existing roadway where it would continue widening to the western side of the road and become a four lane facility with a 44-foot depressed grass median. The 44-foot depressed grass median would continue northward for approximately 1.92 miles to a point approximately 0.25 mile south of CR 334/Wallace Circle. From this point approximately 1,200 feet south of the Gresston community, the roadway would then transition into a 4-lane rural section with a 14-foot flush median. The 14-foot flush median is proposed for this stretch of roadway to limit impacts to adjacent businesses, a church and homes in the area. This section would be widened along the roadway symmetrically through the Gresston community for approximately 2.3 miles. The roadway widening would then transition back to the western side of the roadway where it would proceed northward to become a four lane facility with a 44-foot depressed grass median on existing alignment for approximately 2.4 miles. The roadway would then transition back to a four lane rural section with a 14-foot flush median approximately 0.31 mile south of the intersection of CR 281/Bates Road and SR 87, still widening to the Rev 6/17/2013 Page 2 of 8 western side of the roadway until reaching the southern intersection of SR 87/SR 257, where the widening would become symmetrical until the end of the project at the Bleckley/Dodge County line. In addition, the following side roads would be realigned to provide improved sight distance and 90 degree intersections where possible: CR 8/Log Cabin Road, CR 416/Jessica Lane, CR 350/Dubois Church Road, CR 117/Old Empire Road, and CR 382/Jack Spires Road.

Modified Project Description: Since the above original description, changes have been made to the project. This archaeological survey was conducted in order to ensure proper coverage of these changes in the project since the previous surveys. One of these changes required treatment under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act as it was the only change that occurred within U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jurisdiction. This change consists of improvements to be made to a drainage structure underneath the Norfolk Southern Railway and an adjacent one underneath Gresston Road (Figures 1 – 4). Five additional changes in design that did not fall within U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jurisdiction are discussed in a separate report (Carlock 2016).