There is a new landscape beginning to emerge along the initial section of Phase 2 of the West Fayetteville Bypass. Virtually all the trees along the right-of-way and easement are down from Sandy Creek Road to Tillman Road to Eastin Road and work is expected to begin soon that will raise the grade of the road 4-to-6 feet on the north side of the section where it will intersect with Eastin Road.
Crews have been removing trees along the right-of-way and easement for the past few weeks while construction crews continued grading work from the intersection of Sandy Creek Road and Tillman Road and for the approximately 3,000 feet to the north where Tillman Road currently parallels the bypass. The area where Tillman curves to the northwest will see the bypass continue on a northward track where it will intersect with Eastin Road.
Work on the grade of the road from the Tillman curve to Eastin Road will require additional time to complete because that portion of the roadway will require a significant amount of fill dirt to bring the grade up to 6 feet from where it currently sits, said county project manager Carlos Christian.
Christian said the county has right-of-entry on all the properties in the current section and is waiting on the right-of-way acquisition to be completed on up to three properties.
While not part of the new roadway, the portion of Tillman Road from Sandy Creek Road to the curve will become an easement area.
Construction on the Sandy Creek Road to Eastin Road section is expected to be open for traffic sometime next fall, depending on weather conditions.
The second and final section of Phase 2 will extend from Eastin Road to West Bridge Road at Ga. Highway 92. Negotiations to acquire the right-of-way for the Eastin/West Bridge section are ongoing.
Christian said previously that the final section is expected to go to bid later this year with construction expected to be completed approximately two years from the time of the contract award.
Christian said some simultaneous construction could occur in the two sections, though the phase north of Eastin Road is primarily in the right-of-way acquisition stage.
Phase 2 of the bypass totals 4.5 miles, running from approximately a half-mile south of the Tillman Road/Sandy Creek Road intersection north to the intersection of Hwy. 92 and West Bridge Road.
