The Public Works and Engineering Services Committee approved moving forward a contract agreement for engineering services regarding a turn lane at the intersection of William Few Parkway and Chastain Drive turning into the Chastain Place neighborhood.
The contract is with Ardurra for $84,900, and according to Kyle Titus, engineering services director, said over the past seven years there has been more than 13 accidents at that location, with most being vehicles rear ended.
“In addition to the significant amount of traffic accidents, there’s a lot of congestion in the a.m. and p.m. peak hours along this corridor,” Titus said. “Staff has looked into this, and we feel confident that adding a left turn lane here at this location and potentially extending the right turn lane.”
Adurra is expected to deliver the permits and final construction documents within six months.
The PWES Committee also approved moving forward an independent contract agreement with Benesch for $53,775.00 for engineering services connected to the Euchee Creek Greenway trail project to connect the section from Wrightsboro Road in Grovetown to Canterbury Farms. Titus said the project was first approved in 2013 with W.R. Toole Engineers, who is now Benesch, and the final design was finished in 2018. However, the project was shelved due to there not being any funds identified at the time.
“County management identified funding through SPLOST contingency, 2017-2022 SPLOST contingency that we would prefer this be funded out of,” Titus said. “What we are asking to do is pick up existing plans, do a quality control review of those plans, make any updates as needed and re-permit, reacquire all the permits that have since expired.”
The process is expected to take six months, Titus said.
“The Community and Emergency Services Committee approved moving forward a proclamation honoring retired educators. whereas, The Governor of the State of Georgia has proclaimed Sunday, November 5, 2023, as Retired Educators’ Day in Georgia; and whereas, There are more than 142,000 retired educators in Georgia who have touched the lives of generations of people; and whereas, The retired educators of Georgia donate thousands of hours of volunteer service and make invaluable contributions to the welfare of their communities, often continuing to be a major source of insight and direction in education for our state and nation,” the proclamation states in part.
The next Columbia County Board of Commissioners meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. in the auditorium at the Evans Government Center.
Stephanie Hill is the managing editor and covers Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.
