The Grovetown City Council received an update on road and other projects Columbia County is working on that are in and around Grovetown during the meeting on Monday, June 12.
The update came courtesy of District 4 Commissioner Alison Couch, who Mayor Pro Tem Eric Blair said joins them once a quarter to give the update. Couch started her update with the Lewiston Road widening project, stating there are no new updates there, but it is estimated to be completed in mid-2024.
“The Gateway Bloulebard landscaping and lighting project was completed since the last time I was here,” Couch said. “Horizon South Parkway widening project, that is estimated to be complete in mid-2026. That one just started, I’m sure you’ve noticed the trees coming down. Those projects take around three years because of weather delays and things of that nature, so we’ve got a ways to go on that one.”
Couch said the Wrightsboro Road resurfacing project between the Grovetown city limits and Jimmie Dyess Parkway went out for bid in May 2023 and is expected to be brought before the Columbia County Board of Commissioners for approval in July, with the contract starting in August.
“There are eight roadway projects in that contract and the contractor has the discretion on which project to start and finish first out of the eight,” Couch said. “So, I can’t give a solid timeline on that other than Wrightsboro Road should be resurfaced by or before August of 2024.”
But before Wrightsboro Road is resurfaced, Couch said the county is looking to do some intersection safety improvements at the intersection of Wrightsboro Road and Old Wheeler Road.
“They’ll do that in conjunction with the resurfacing project,” Couch said.
Couch added that at the intersection of Wrightsboro Road and Baker Place Road, the county is hoping to make some improvements with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).
Bids for the Harlem Grovetown Road resurfacing are projected to go out in May 2025, Couch said. Due diligence and concept development for the Horizon South Parkway and Chamblin Road connector started in the spring, she added.
Couch also spoke about the Euchee Creek Greenway Trail and said the bid to connect the trail from Grovetown to Canterbury Farms is estimated to go out in mid-2025.
As for the biggest project on the list, Couch said it’s the I-20/Louisville Road interchange.
“That will be a multi-million dollar project and GDOT has funded the scoping phase and we’re probably looking at 15 years or so before that is completed, unless it’s advanced due to possibly a safety concern and things like that.”
As for the non-road projects, Couch said the county is preparing for bid the new Sugar Creek booster pumping station and water line.
“This will help supply additional water to Grovetown and provide redundancy to the connection at Wrightsboro Road,” Wright said.
Couch also mentioned that the county contract with Gold Cross EMS was just renewed and how the biggest issue is having enough staff for ambulances.
“From those negotiations the biggest change is that Columbia County will take over dispatch,” Couch said. “We believe this will be a good thing for our citizens in that it will be more efficient and allow for the cost savings for Gold Cross to be used for salary increases for the staff.
Council member Sylvia Martin spoke about trying to get something done to help with the danger at the intersection of Katherine St. and Old Wrightsboro Road.
“We’ve made lots of phone calls, we’ve talked to state officials, we’ve spoken with several people at GDOT,” Couch said. “…I think our next option is to get in the car and drive to possibly where they are located and wait in the waiting room until someone will speak to us about it. I’m working on getting the address…for where our district office is.”
Blair said the city has addressed the issue with legislators and GDOT about left hand turns at that intersection.
“Part of the issue was they were like well, you guys don’t have the numbers to justify a left turn lane because you guys don’t have the numbers…we said you’ll never get the numbers because one, if you’re from Grovetown you know you can’t turn left there and the queue lane is only big enough for two vehicles,” Blair said. “So there’s no way we’re going to get the numbers that you want and of course they brought well you have the … railroad crossing behind you…we’ve got to do something.”
Couch said the railroad being there complicates things and makes it a federal issue.
“So, seems like that’s just one more hiccup in it, but we’re not going to stop trying on it,” Couch said.
The full meeting can be viewed on the City of Grovetown Facebook page.
Stephanie Hill is a staff writer covering Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.
