An Archaeological Survey of Proposed Roadway Lighting Along I-16, Bibb County, Georgia

On October 18, 2001 an archeological survey was conducted along a 3.8 mile stretch of Interstate 16, on the east side of Macon, Georgia. The survey was undertaken to ensure that the Georgia Department of Transportation is in compliance with federal regulations concerning the identification and protection of significant archeological resources that may be affected by the project. The proposed project consists of the installation of roadway lighting along I-16 between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/Coliseum Drive interchange (Exit 2) and State Route 87/Ocmulgee East Boulevard (Exit 6) in Bibb County, Georgia (Figure 1). The recommended lighting fixtures would be of the flat-lens, full cutoff, cobra head type on 35 foot high light poles positioned approximately five feet behind the existing guardrails and spaced 230 - 240 feet apart along the outside shoulders of the highway (Figure 2). Footings for the light poles will be poured concrete, which will be sunk approximately three feet below the road shoulder. The lighting is proposed on both sides of the interstate within the length of the project corridor. The project, which is proposed to be built within the existing 300 feet wide right-of-way, is approximately 3.8 miles in length. The survey included a review of previous archeological work that has been conducted within the project corridor and its immediate surroundings, a field inspection, and the preparation of this report. We conclude that the proposed project will not affect any archeological sites, which are defined as areas of human activity (50 years old or older) that contain artifacts, features, and other remains that can yield information about the past.