Phase I Archaeological Resource Survey of the Proposed Widening of County Road (CR) 1515/ Willis Foreman Road, Richmond County, Georgia

In May 2019, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc (VHB) conducted a Phase I archaeological survey of the proposed County Road (CR) 1515/Willis Foreman Road widening from the intersection of United States (US) 1/State Route (SR) 4/Deans Bridge Road to the intersection with US 25/SR 121/Peach Orchard Road, approximately 2.5 miles (mi (4 kilometers [km]) north of the City of Hephzibah in Richmond County, Georgia (PI No. 0013703). The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) proposes to improve the existing roadway conditions by expanding Willis Foreman Road to include a central tum lane to assist in relieving traffic congestion. The proposed project would consist of operational improvements to Willis Foreman Road from US 1/SR 4/Deans Bridge Road to US 25/SR 121/Peach Orchard Road The existing roadway consists of two 12-foot (ft) (3.6-meter [m]) travel lanes. The proposed roadway would consist of two 12-ft (3.6-m) travel lanes with a central 14-ft (43-m) tum lane. The proposed roadway would include a shared-use path on the north side of the road and a sidewalk on the south side of the road, and the proposed road would include a curb and gutter for its entire length. The existing right-of-way (ROW) of Willis Foreman Road generally varies between 50 and 60 ft (15 and 18 m), but the ROW expands up to 80 ft (24 m) at some intersections. The proposed ROW would vary between 71 and 84 ft (21.6 and 25.6 m). The total length of the project is approximately 5.9 mi (9.5 km); the width of the ESB varies between 315 to 470 ft (96-143 m). The project ESB encompasses approximately 253.1 acres (102.4 hectares). Since the project is in a preliminary concept phase, the Area of Potential Effects (APE) was defined as the total length and width of the Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB). For the purpose of the current Phase I archaeological survey, the ESB was considered the limits of the survey area. Prior to the start of fieldwork, background research was conducted through a review of Georgia's Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources GIS (GNAHRGIS) database. As a result of this research, 14 previously recorded archaeological sites (9Rl55, 9Rl56, 9Rl179, 9Rl180, 9Rl205, 9Rl529, 9Rl530, 9Rl534, 9Rl572, 9Rl1062, 9Rl1063, 9Rl1102, 9Rl1103, and 9Rl1150) were identified within a 1-km radius of project ESB, two of which are situated within the limits of the current project ESB (9Rl180 and 9Rl1150). Five previous archaeological surveys have been conducted along portions of Willis Foreman Road within the current project ESB.

During the course of the current survey, a total of 1,466 shovel tests were excavated within the project ESB, 1,453 of which were negative for cultural material. Thirteen shovel tests were positive for precontact and/or historic cultural material. Seventy-seven shovel tests were unable to be excavated due to paved roads and driveways, commercial and residential structures, and small ponds/standing water. These shovel tests were subsequently recorded as "No Digs"; the environment surrounding all shovel test locations was subject to visual inspection. As a result of survey efforts, two previously recorded archaeological sites (9Rl180 and 9RI 1150) were revisited, two new archaeological sites (9RI 1196 and 9RI 1197) were recorded, one historic cemetery was recorded (9Rl1198), and three Isolated Finds (IF-1, IF-2, and IF-3) were identified.