Peachtree City Mayor Steve

Brown is beginning to build opposition among south metro Atlanta cities

against the state's plans to spend $2.4 billion building the Northern

Arc, a east-west highway connecting four north metro Atlanta counties.

Brown worries that the state's

plans to build the Northern Arc will hijack road and highway funds that

can be used for projects on the southside. So he is seeking support for

a movement against the Arc from other southside governments.

"We've got to voice our

opinion now or forever hold our peace for the next 20 years," Brown

said, alleging that the Northern Arc project would siphon off federal

transportation funds for that length of time.

If that's true, it would stall

projects like the widening of Ga. Highway 74 South in Peachtree City to

four lanes, which was promised to several local industries when they located

here, Brown noted.

Each south metro county has

a similar project that's necessary to improve road infrastructure, Brown

said. He added that the infrastructure is important for economic development

purposes also.

"They're stuffing the

money up in the northern counties and down here in the south, we're starving,"

Brown said. "It's an issue of fairness. The Northern Arc is nothing

more than a developmental highway. It has nothing to do with air quality

or traffic relief."

Brown said he has gained support

from all the municipalities in Henry County, and the city councils in

Fairburn and Hapeville have approved resolutions opposing the Northern

Arc.

In a letter to a task force

opposing the Northern Arc project, Brown says the money for that project

could be better spent in acquiring rights-of-way on the southside "to

avoid the painful mistakes that fell upon the north metro counties."

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