The much-anticipated widening

of Ga. Highway 54 west in Peachtree City from two to four lanes will begin

some time after bids are opened in June, according to state Department

of Transportation officials.

Right-of-way acquisition is

already underway for the project, but the start date could fluctuate depending

on the contractor selected to handle the project, officials said.

The highway will be widened

from the intersection of Ga. Highway 74 all the way past the Peachtree

City limits to the intersection of Doctor Fisher Road in Coweta County.

It will likely take from two to two-and-a-half years, according to Tom

Queen, a district planning and programming engineer for the DOT.

The project involves replacement

of the bridge over the CSX railroad track and the widening the bridge

over Line Creek heading into Coweta County, Queen said.

Considering the heavy traffic

in the area, it's likely the CSX bridge will remain open while a new bridge

is built, he added.

"Typically we don't try

to reduce the number of through lanes in a construction area," Queen

said. "Especially in that area because there's so much traffic."

The stretch of highway has

a significant amount of traffic in the mornings and evenings as well as

during noon time, Queen said. But once the widening project is finished,

motorists will notice a difference, he added.

"Once it's completed,

it sure will be appreciated," Queen said.

The design includes a raised

grassy median that will be 44 feet wide, which will allow the city to

install landscaping. Also included are five-foot-wide sidewalks on either

side of the road along with the associated curb and gutter work.

The sidewalk south of the highway

will be funded by the DOT while the sidewalk to the north will be funded

the Atlanta Regional Commission, said Mike Davidson, design group manager

for the DOT.

The project includes deceleration

right turn lanes for some intersections. Left turn lanes will also be

provided at the median openings for Wynnmeade Parkway, Line Creek Drive,

Planterra Way, Huddleston Drive and at the entrance to The Avenue at Peachtree

City and The Marketplace commercial areas, Davidson said.

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