PHASE I ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR THE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT OF SR 520/US 280 OVER BAGLEY CREEK, CHATTAHOOCHEE COUNTY, GEORGIA

Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) has completed fieldwork for the Phase I archaeological survey for the proposed bridge replacement of State Route (SR) 520/US 280 over Bagley Creek in Chattahoochee County, Georgia. EPEI was contracted by Parsons Transportation Group (PTG) to locate and evaluate archaeological resources within the area of potential effect (APE). The APE for EPEI’s archaeological survey includes the project limits and the required road right-of-way (ROW). The APE has an extra 100-foot expanded survey corridor (ESC) buffer added around it as stipulated by the Environmental Procedures Manual. Identified resources were then evaluated in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

The proposed project would consist of the replacement of the eastbound and westbound bridges on SR 520/US 280 over Bagley Creek 2 miles southeast of Cusseta in Chattahoochee County. The eastbound bridge, constructed in 1984, is GDOT Bridge 053-0022-0 and the westbound bridge, constructed in 1931, is GDOT Bridge 053-0010-0. The existing eastbound bridge is a 90 foot long and 42-foot-wide reinforced concrete T-beam comprised of three spans. The existing westbound bridge is a 78-foot-long and 46-foot-wide reinforced concrete T-beam comprised of three spans.

The proposed replacement bridge structures would both be 100-foot-long and 40-foot wide gutter-to-gutter. The proposed typical sections would be two 12-foot travel lanes and 8-foot shoulders on each bridge. The proposed replacement bridge structures are anticipated to be constructed on the existing alignment. The existing right-of-way (ROW) varies from approximately 230 foot to 300 foot. Additional ROW and/or easement is anticipated to implement the proposed project, but the amount is unknown at this time. The length of the proposed project would be approximately 4,218 feet. The survey area with the ESC included extends 4,418 feet along SR 520 in a southeasterly

direction, starting 400 feet southeast of Broad Street and ending 300 feet northwest of Trotter Ridge Court. The survey area width varies from between 400 feet and 500 feet for a total survey coverage of 47.4 acres. A total of 18 transects were surveyed and 226 shovels tests completed. Shovel tests were not excavated due to existing roads, driveways and natural features such as creeks. Three shovel tests were positive for cultural remains. A total of 42 artifacts were collected during survey, all from a single newly identified site, 9CE1773. No other resources were identified during fieldwork for the project.

Based on EPEI’s survey results, the Phase I archaeological survey for the proposed bridge replacement of SR 520/US 280 over Bagley Creek in Chattahoochee County resulted in the discovery of one newly recorded archaeological site. Site 9CE1773 is a middle twentieth century historic artifact scatter suggesting a domestic occupation with a single precontact artifact. Based on EPEI’s fieldwork, the portion of site 9CE1773 within the ESC does not contain significant data potential.