Archaeological Assessment of Project IR-75-2(163), Clayton County

The proposed project would reconstruct and widen 1-75 between U.S.41 and 1-285 west of Forest Park. The project as proposed would begin just south of U.S.41 then would extend northerly along existing 1-75 corridor to the 1-285 interchange. As part of the proposed project a new overhead bridge and ramp relocation for northbound I-75/U.S.41 traffic would be required. The addition of north and south bound lanes on 1-75 would require the replacement of existing bridges at Bob White Trail and Forest Parkway/Thames Road/S.R.331 and the southbound exit ramp to Forest Parkway. Several additional north and south bound lanes would be relocated. The frontage road on the eastside of 1-75 between U.S.41 and 1-285 would be relocated east of existing location. The project as proposed would also require the relocation of the northbound lanes at U.S.41 and the addition of one northbound lane to the Forest Parkway/Thames Road/S.R.331 interchange. New bridges would be required at the U.S.41 northbound ramp and Bob White Trail. An archaeological survey consistent with the proposed project rights-of-way was surveyed for the entire length of the project corridor. 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. No significant archaeological resources were located within the proposed project corridor as described in paragraph two above. It is concluded, therefore, that the project will not affect archaeological resources on or eligible for inclusion in the NRHP provided that the project conforms to that described above.