Bypass work

is progressing

By

JOHN THOMPSON

jthompson@ TheCitizenNews.com

Progress

on the bypass around the city of Newnan is moving ahead, but the Coweta

County Commission learned of a glitch Tuesday.

Apparently,

state officials are saying the portion of the bypass that is in the

city of Newnan is in the region's non-compliance area for air quality.

But the county's portion is out of the region.

"So,

we'll be able to build a bypass from Lower Fayetteville Road to Highway

16?" questioned Commissioner Lawrence Nelms.

Assistant

County Administrator Eddie Whitlock said Newnan officials were looking

into the situation and seeing why land in the same county had two different

classifications.

But Whitlock

said an archaeological study and endangered species study had been completed.

Both studies showed there was nothing present that could interfere with

construction of the roadway.

In a letter

from Rosser Engineering, environmental scientist Eric Rosser also said

the county plans to bridge possible wetlands, so no significant environmental

impact is anticipated.

Officials

have been working on the roadway for years and are getting ready to

look at buying right-of-way to complete the property acquisition for

the project.

Whitlock

said he would keep the county updated on the bypass and where it stands

as far as air quality compliance goes.

"This

isn't adding traffic. It's solving some of the problems," said

Commissioner Vernon "Mutt" Hunter.