Fate of I-75 interchange uncertain
Monroe Roark May 27, 2019
Will a new interchange on I-75 between McDonough and Locust Grove ever happen?
Although the process has been in the works for some time, a few members of the Henry County Board of Commissioners have their doubts that it will ever come to pass and they decided to not spend some $4 million earmarked for design work on the project, saying that the money could be better spent in other areas.
The problem with that reasoning is the money in question comes from SPLOST funding and its use is strictly limited. Other commissioners who want the project design to proceed stressed that the will of the voters who passed the SPLOST referendum, with this item clearly included on the project list, should be respected.
The vote at the May 7 regular Board of Commissioners meeting was to table the issue so more information could be provided in a workshop setting.
Commissioner Dee Clemmons was the most vocal in opposition to moving the design forward, saying that past history shows there is no guarantee the state or federal government will follow through on the project and she didn’t want this kind of money spent with such uncertainty. She said there were several examples of this with regard to state highways in the county that should have received improvement funding by now but kept getting pushed back on the calendar.
“We cannot be fiscally responsible as a board if we spend $4 million without knowing for sure [if the project will ultimately be approved],” she said.
Clemmons’ position was shared by Commissioner Vivian Thomas, who also said the money can be better spent elsewhere.
A recent letter from the Federal Highway Administration states that the proposed interchange project near Bethlehem Road is “acceptable” and could happen pending completion of a required environmental process and placement on the Transportation Improvement Project list (TIP).
But Commissioner Bruce Holmes said the predecessor of one of the officials named on that letter told him several years ago the interchange would never happen because the result would be multiple interchanges too close together.
“Until we get clarification from the FHWA that they will fund it, we should redirect these funds,” he said.
When county manger Cheri Hobson-Matthews pointed out that it is a Tier 1 capital project in the SPLOST program and money cannot simply be redirected, Holmes replied, “We reallocate SPLOST money all the time.” But Matthews reiterated that, by law, the funds must be spent only on certain listed capital projects.
The initial allocation for this project was $5.5 million, according to SPLOST transportation director Roque Romero. A feasibility study was conducted looking at four possible locations between the current interchanges at Hwy. 155 and Bill Gardner Parkway. The results of that study were approved by the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Romero noted that the design work would be done in phases, with the first step actually costing about $500,000. The rest would not be spent if the project didn’t get the go-ahead, but it will be dead for certain if nothing is done, he said.
“You’ve got to start somewhere,” said Romero. “If you don’t start today, you’ll be further behind.”
Board chair June Wood said the design should go forward.
“This county is so far behind,” she said. “We need to come together as one voice and advocate for our priorities.”
Wood added that the project ties into a regional concept and will help the county as well as the Atlanta area. “This is funding that the voters have already voted for.”
Commissioner Gary Barham agreed. “I don’t see how we can sit on this and not move forward,” he said.
Clemmons said that Henry County could do everything it needs to do in these areas with funding from a T-SPLOST if it were placed before the voters. She did not mention the fact that a regional T-SPLOST was soundly defeated at the ballot box a few years ago and citizens have been very vocal in opposition to another one since then. Thomas made the motion to table the issue, directing county staff “to prepare a complete workshop” to study the details. Wood seconded.
"The Henry County Watchdog Group"
