Phase 1 Archaeological Resources Survey For The Proposed Interstate 85 Managed Lane Extension Projects Gwinnett and Barrow Counties, Georgia

Brockington and Associates, Inc. conducted an intensive Phase I archaeological resources survey of the proposed US Interstate 85 (1-85) Managed Lanes Extension Projects in Gwinnett and Barrow counties, Georgia. The fieldwork for the investigation was conducted between 10 and 14 January, 23 June to 3 August 2005, and 25 July to 4 August 2006. The investigation was conducted for HNTB Corporation, in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and in partial fulfillment of guidelines established by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), by personnel qualified under 36 CFR Part 61. The previous design for the project was to construct additional High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) and Single Occupancy Vehicle (SOV) lanes along 1-85, which begins south of the I-85/State Route (SR) 316 interchange and extends northeast approximately 21 miles (33.8 km) along 1-85 just past the interchange with SR 211. Approximately 3.5 miles (5.6 km) along US Interstate 985 (1-985), located between the intersection with 1-985 and 1-85 to just north of SR 20, were also included in the previous 1-85 HOV/SOV project corridor. The existing facility varies from five lanes at the project start point to two lanes at the project endpoint. The proposed facility would include extending the existing HOV lane northeastward to SR 211 and the construction of a concrete barricade in the median. The existing right-ofway along 1-85 ranges in width from 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 meters) from the edge of the roadway. The proposed right-of-way for the 1-85 HOV/SOV project corridor is approximately 200 feet (60 meters) from the edge of the roadway. In a few areas, the proposed Area of Potential Effect (APE) extended beyond the proposed right-ofway and included up to approximately 3,609 feet (1100 meters) from the edge of the roadway. This previous design has been reduced, and the current project design (1-85 Managed Lanes Extension) begins just north of the interchange of 1-85 and Old Peachtree Road and extends northeast approximately 17 miles (27.4 km) along 1-85 to the interchange with SR 211. The revised and reduced proposed facility would include one-lane widening in each direction along 1-85 and 1-985 to be utilized as High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. This would effectively serve as the northern extension of the managed lanes that will be converted from the existing HOV lanes from 1-285 to just north of Old Peachtree Road. A proposed right-hand exit to replace the existing left-hand exit from 1-85 northbound to 1-985 is also included in this project. For the 1-85 Managed Lanes Extension project, widening along 1-85 from the beginning of the project (just north of Old Peachtree Road, where the existing HOV lanes terminate) to just south of the 1-85/1-985 interchange would be outside widening in both directions. Retaining walls would be utilized to eliminate the need for additional required right-of-way. North of the 1-85/1-985 Interchange, the proposed HOV lanes along 1-85 and 1-985 would be implemented by widening to the inside, utilizing the existing grassed median. The majority of the project corridor is situated in developed areas along 1-85 and 1-985. The results of this investigation report the findings from the larger, previous 1-85 HOV/SOV project corridor investigated. However, since the current proposed 1-85 Managed Lanes Extension project has reduced from this larger 1-85 HOV/SOV project corridor, archaeological resources will be discussed within their relation to the current 1-85 Managed Lanes Extension project corridor, and it will be noted whether significant archaeological resources will be affected by the current proposed 1-85 Managed Lanes Extension project. Background research conducted using the Archaeological Site Files at the University of Georgia, Athens, found nine previously recorded archaeological resources (sites 9GW299, 9GW300, 9GW301, 9GW302, 9GW306, 9GW353, 9GW379, 9GW390, and 9GW542) within the 1-85 HOV/SOV project corridor and 31 additional sites within a 0.8-km (0.5-mi) radius of the 1-85 HOV/SOV project corridor. Sites 9GW299 and 9GW300 have been recommended eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Phase III data recovery has been conducted at 9GW299, and the site has been destroyed due to roadway construction. Site 9GW300 is predominantly intact, and artifacts from this site were recovered during our limited Phase II testing of the site for this investigation. We recommend avoidance of direct physical effects to 9GW300. Site 9GW306 has been recommended ineligible for the NRHP, but we recommend avoidance and preservation of the site due to local interests. Physical remnants of 9GW306 include a water wheel, concrete dam, and a concrete bridge. The current design for the proposed 1-85 Managed Lanes Extension project indicates that both 9GW300 and 9GW306 are located outside the area of potential effect (APE) and will not be impacted. Sites 9GW301, 9GW302, 9GW379, 9GW390, and 9GW542 have been recommended ineligible for the NRHE The previous NRHP recommendation for 9GW353 is unknown. No artifacts or features associated with 9GW301, 9GW302, 9GW353, 9GW379, and 9GW390 were identified during this investigation, and these sites were destroyed. Twenty-four of the remaining 31 previously recorded archaeological resources are recommended ineligible for the NRHP and are not located within an area of direct or indirect effect for the construction of the proposed 1-85 Managed Lanes Extension improvements. The remaining seven previously recorded archaeological sites have no NRHP recommendation, and are not located within an area of direct or indirect effect for the construction of the proposed project. The archaeological resources survey identified five previously unrecorded archaeological resources (9GW590, 9GW591, 9GW592, 9GW614, and 9GW615) and five isolated finds within the 1-85 HOV/SOV project corridor. These five archaeological resources (9GW590, 9GW591, 9GW592, 9GW614, and 9GW615) are recommended ineligible for the NRHP and have reached their maximum research potential during this Phase I investigation.