The Columbia County Public Works and Engineering Services Committee will discuss several road projects at its meeting on Tuesday, June 27.
The PES committee will discuss the purchase of signal equipment for traffic signal upgrades at the intersections of Evans to Locks Road at Columbia Industrial Boulevard, Evans to Locks Road at N. Belair Road and N. Belair Road at Evans Town Center Boulevard.
According to the agenda document, these intersections currently have signal heads that are mounted on wooden poles and span wires. The Traffic Engineering and Operations Department would like to make upgrades to the equipment.
“Separate equipment quotes for mast arms, cable and pull boxes, signal equipment, switches, and detection systems were requested from at least three vendors for each intersection,” according to the agenda document. “In addition, staff estimates for ancillary expenses such as directional bores, foundation materials, and misc. equipment were assembled and included in the estimate. The lowest equipment quotes, along with the ancillary expense estimates, were combined for each intersection with a 20% contingency added for potential price fluctuations.”
The committee will consider approving upgrading the equipment using funds from the 2017-2022 SPLOST and the cost will not exceed $500,000. If approved, the department will upgrade each signal separately over the next six months.
The PES Committee will also consider a request for support for a roundabout at the intersection of Wrightsboro Road and Baker Place Road.
“GDOT Safety Office prepared a concept study for a roundabout at this intersection,” the agenda document states. “This letter of support is required to complete the concept study and, if warranted, for the project to proceed towards programming.”
Support from Columbia County on this project would include a financial contribution of up to $605,000 toward the estimated cost of $2.85 million and a commitment to provide landscape maintenance and mowing, in addition to lighting installation and operation costs. The $605,000 would not increase without approval from the Board of Commissioners.
“The financial contribution of $605,000 (TIA Discretionary) would be required following project approval and programming,” according to the agenda document. “Financial obligations for lighting (TAVT) would not start until lighting installation was contracted, and financial obligations for mowing and landscape maintenance (R&B Operations Budget) would not start until after the contractor’s warranty period was completed.”
The committee will also consider support for a roundabout at the intersection of Columbia Road and Louisville Road.
“GDOT’s Safety Office programmed a project to install a roundabout at the intersection of Columbia Road and Louisville Road,” according to the agenda document. “This letter of support is required for the project to proceed. If executed and the roundabout is constructed, Columbia County’s commitment will be to provide mowing and landscape maintenance in addition to lighting installation and operation costs.”
Design for this project started in 2023 with a projected start of fall 2026 for the construction.
The staff is recommending executing the support letter for both projects.
The Columbia County Community and Emergency Services Committee will consider a service agreement with the City of Harlem for the Oliver Hardy Festival.
“The City of Harlem has requested a service agreement in the amount of $3,000 to help support the 2023 Oliver Hardy Festival to be held on Oct. 7, 2023 in downtown Harlem,” according to the agenda document. “The funding will come from hotel/motel tax. The County has supported this festival for several years.”
The staff is recommending approval of the agreement.
Agendas for both meetings can be found at columbiacountyga.gov.
Both the PES and CES committees will meet Tuesday, June 27 at 8:30 a.m. in the Evans Government Center Auditorium.
Stephanie Hill is a staff writer covering Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.
