Phase I Archaeological Survey for the CR 770/Bells Ferry Road North Little River Bridge Replacement in Cherokee County, Georgia

PI Number 0013525 would replace the structurally deficient Bells Ferry Road two-lane bridge over the Little River arm of Lake Allatoona with a new two-lane structure. Minor roadway improvements leading up to the bridge on both approaches would be included. A culvert would also be added beneath Bells Ferry Road north of the bridge to provide for pedestrian connectivity between the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) facilities. The total project length is approximately 0.88-kilometers (km) (0.55-mile [mi]).

The existing Bells Ferry Road is a 45-mile per hour (mph) Urban Minor Arterial Street that travels north and south connecting the City of Marietta in Cobb County to the City of Canton in Cherokee County. At the project location, Bells Ferry Road is a two-lane roadway with 3.35-meter (m) (11-foot[ft]) travel lanes, paved shoulders and variable width rural shoulders, and an existing bridge crossing over the Little River and Lake Allatoona. The existing horizontal curve south of the bridge is substandard and signed with a 35-mph advisory speed. The existing horizontal and vertical curve north of the bridge is substandard and signed with a 35 mph advisory speed. The existing right-of-way (ROW) width along the project is 18.28 m (60 ft).

The proposed Bells Ferry Road typical section would consist of one 3.63 m (12-ft) travel lane in each direction, a 5.48-m (18-ft) shoulder with curb and gutter on the west side to accommodate a 3.05-m (10-ft) shared-use path and a 1.52 m (5-ft) grass strip, and a 2.44-m (8-ft) rural shoulder with 1.21-m (4-ft) paved on the east side. The proposed bridge would be a 15.5-m (51-ft) wide by 228.6-m (750-ft) long concrete bridge with one 12-ft (3.63 m)travel lane in each direction, curb and gutter, a 4.26-m (14-ft) shoulder on the west side to accommodate an 2.44 m (8-ft) shared-use path with a 1.52 m (5-ft) separation from the southbound travel lane and 1-foot clearance from the barrier, and an 2.44 m (8-ft) flush shoulder on the east side.

The proposed bridge would be constructed approximately 13.1-m (43-ft) west, centerline to centerline, from the existing bridge. Traffic would be maintained on the existing bridge during construction of the new bridge. The design and posted speed limit would remain 45 mph. Variable-width easements would be required from the USACE property, with a maximum width of 32 m (105-ft) on the west side of Bells Ferry Road and a maximum width of 24.38-m (80-ft) on the east side of Bells Ferry Road, measured from the existing right of way.