The Fayette County Public Works Department held an open house on May 22 to familiarize residents with plans for the East Fayetteville Bypass. The open house showed preliminary plans for the only the north leg of the bypass.
The East Fayetteville Bypass is a group of transportation projects that provides a new road between County Line Road and Corinth Road as well as intersection improvements on the east side of the county. The north leg of the project is fully funded through 2004 SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) revenues, county staff said.
Staff at the well-attended open house provided poster boards showing the conceptual alignment of the road, including the intersections with County Line Road, McDonough Road, Corinth Road and Ga. Highway 54 East in Fayetteville.
The potential exists that, when the north leg is completed, portions of the traffic on McDonough Road flowing to and from Clayton County currently moving through downtown Fayetteville and heading north on Ga. Highway 85 could completely bypass the downtown area.
While most of the roadway to be utilized for the bypass takes advantage of existing roads, a 2.8-mile section will need to be constructed between County Line Road and Hwy. 54 East. The construction adjacent to County Line Road is a short distance south of McDonough Road.
No portion of the bypass south of that area of County Line Road is under consideration at this time due to a lack of current plans and funding, said Fayette County Commissioner Randy Ognio.
County staff took comments and suggestions from those at the open house.
The purpose of the bypass is to alleviate existing congestion and safety concerns by providing new capacity and operational improvements. The project scope was modified in October 2014 to its current format, county staff said.
