A future project to extend

TDK Boulevard into Coweta County via a bridge over Line Creek was originally

envisioned as a way to free up traffic on Ga. Highway 54 West by rerouting

employees to the city's industrial park.

But Peachtree City Mayor Steve

Brown is worried that Coweta officials may allow rampant development of

the area and create more of a traffic problem than a traffic solution.

The city is depending on funding

from the Georgia Department of Transportation for the project. But Brown

said in a recent letter that he agreed with Coweta officials that the

funds could be about 10 years away. Because of that the project "is

a moot point anyway," Brown told The Citizen Monday.

Brown said he wants more priority

to be given to the widening of Ga. Highway 74 south since large industries

located to Peachtree City "based on that unfulfilled promise."

"I have always been concerned

about what happens on the other end," Brown told council at its retreat

Friday, referring to how the area would develop in Coweta County.

At the retreat, Brown said

he is uncomfortable with the response from Coweta County Commissioner

Mutt Hunter, who told him the county would worry about planning its development

for that area once the extension came closer to fruition.

"At our meeting, he was

very noncommittal," Brown said, adding that he wanted to encourage

the development of a master plan for the area.

"We don't have any control

over what happens on the other side," noted Councilman Dan Tennant.

"There will be some development along there."

Across the creek in Coweta,

Hunter said the county's position has not changed on the extension of

the road. His biggest issue is funding, which has become tight at DOT.

Hunter also disputes concerns

about development in the area.

"That's not a concern

of theirs. It's far easier to build something in Peachtree City than Coweta

County," Hunter added.

The Coweta commissioner added

the meeting was held because the Coweta County Commission had heard that

Brown opposed the road extension during his recent mayoral campaign.

"There's no sense pushing

for something if the other side doesn't want it," he said.

Currently, the project is in

the design phase but a problem has cropped up relating to the location

of the bridge and the location of a spillway for the proposed Lake McIntosh

reservoir that Fayette County officials plan to build. The reservoir is

expected to boost water production by 8 million gallons a day.

Design for the road extension

project, which is between 85 and 90 percent complete, awaits a final

decision on the bridge location, according to Peachtree City Engineer

Troy Besseche.

The city has $460,000 built into its 2004 budget for preliminary work

on the project.

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