Cultural Resources Survey of the Jimmy Deloach Parkway and Highway 21 Interchange, Chatham County Georgia

In June 1996, a cultural resources survey of the Jimmy DeLoach Parkway and Highway 21 Interchange project (Project No. MLP-25 (81)) in Chatham County, Georgia was conducted by Brockington and Associates, Inc. for Hussey, Gay, Bell, & DeYoung Environmental, Inc. Proposed road construction within the project area necessitated this study, in order to comply with cultural resources management provisions of the 1991 Georgia Environmental Policy Act (GEPA). Additionally, because wetlands are being affected by the proposed road improvements, a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) is required. This permit requires compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and a cultural resources investigation must be conducted in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (as amended, 1992). The preferred alternative is the extension of the Jimmy DeLoach Parkway, beginning approximately 0.5 mile (0.780 km) west of SR 21, crossing the CSX Railroad and SR 21 just south of the Godley Road/Flonnel Avenue intersection with SR 21. This segment includes the new Flonnel Avenue Connector to US 21. The new 4-lane divided roadway has a raised median of variable width, ranging from 12.0 feet (3.6 m) to 47.0 feet (14.4 m). The proposed right-of-way varies from a minimum of 130.0 feet (40.0 m) to 312.0 feet (95.0 m) at the highest sections of the CSX Railroad/Sit 21 bridge approaches. The length of the project along the main line is 0.75 mile (1.21 km). The Flonnel Avenue connector, from SR 21 to the Old Flonnel Avenue, is 0.13 mile (0.21 km) long. The purpose of the project was to locate any cultural resources which might be impacted by the proposed project, determine their significance with regard to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) criteria, to determine the effect the proposed highway improvements may have on these resources, and to make management recommendations to ensure that the proposed development will not adversely affect these resources. To locate and identify cultural resources within the project area, archival research and field surveys (archaeological and architectural) were conducted. No archaeological sites or historic buildings, structures or objects (significant or otherwise) were identified within the Area of Potential Effect of the proposed project corridor. No further cultural resource management consideration is recommended.