Archaeological Reevaluation of Project STP-012-1(107), Cherokee County

In compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and amendments thereto, project STP-012-1(107), Cherokee County has been surveyed with respect to archaeological resources, especially those on or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)". The purpose of the survey was to locate, identify and evaluate the significance of any archaeological resources within the proposed project's area of potential environmental effect. The proposed project would construct three truck climbing lanes and improve intersections along SR 20 from 1-575 to a point just east of SR 369. Site I is an eastbound truck climbing lane beginning approximately 1800 feet east of 1-575 and ending approximately 200 feet west of Big Oak Drive. Site 2 is a westbound truck climbing lane beginning approximately 850 feet west of Shady Lane and continuing east of Macedonia Forest Circle. Site 3 is an eastbound truck climbing lane and will begin approximately 1300 feet west of the SR 20/SR 369 intersection and end approximately 1400 feet east of Greenwood Court. Intersection improvements will be done at Old Doss Road, Scott Road, SR 369, Upper Union/Harmony Road and turn lanes will be constructed at Old Orange Mill Road, Cotton Road, Key Road and Charles Cobb Lane. Existing right-of-way on SR 20 is 100 feet and an additional 5-100 feet of right-of-way would be required. The total length of the project is 9.29 miles. This reevaluation was concerned with the addition of right-of-way in various locations along Site 1. Required right-of-way on the north side would range from 0-120 feet and on the south side from 0-90 feet. Intersection improvements are also proposed at Old Doss Drive, Brooke Park Drive, Key Drive, Big Oak Drive, Weaver Circle, and Scott Road. Required right-of-way for side roads would vary from 30-165 feet. All design changes were surveyed for cultural resources. An archaeological survey (Level II) was conducted in accordance with "GDOT/FHWA Cultural Resource Survey Guidelines" developed by the GDOT Staff Archaeologists in consultation with DNR Historic Preservation Section Staff and concurred in by the Federal Highway Administration and State Historic Preservation Officer. These guidelines provide general survey boundaries and methodological approaches to archaeological surveys based on the type/scope of proposed highway projects and are followed during the initial identification of archaeological resources. By agreement, because no archaeological resources were located within the project's area of potential effect, no signed concurrence from the State Historic Preservation Office is required. It is concluded, therefore, that the project will have no effect upon archaeological resources on or eligible for inclusion in the NRHP provided that the project conforms to that described above.