At this pace, it's anybody's

bet which of two road projects bridging the Fayette-Coweta county line

will be the first to the finish.

In addition to still more delays

in the Ga. Highway 54 widening, extending TDK Boulevard across Line Creek

between Falcon Field and the Planterra Ridge neighborhood has yet to be

started.

The Peachtree City Council

agreed to fund engineering change orders on the TDK Extension requested

of the plans to the county.

After an e-mail circulated

to the local media last week suggested Peachtree City was dragging its

feet again, the city's public information office issued a statement saying

the construction plans were forwarded to the county level for review in

early August, as promised.

"Peachtree City City Engineer

Troy Besseche received the plans on Aug. 1 for review," wrote Betsy

Tyler, spokeswoman for the city. "Besseche said it took a bit longer

than expected to review the plans and some minor changes were requested."

Besseche is on vacation this

week and unavailable for comment.

"After the changes were

made, the plans were delivered by courier to the appropriate staff members

at Fayette and Coweta counties on Aug. 18," the city claims. "Staff

is currently reviewing legal issues concerning right-of-way acquisition

for the project."

Lee Hearn, director of the

county road department whose crews will build the stretch on the Fayette

County side, agreed that details on right of way have been the sticking

point.

"The thing is all the

pieces have to be in place before we even can go to the state and show

them what we want to do to get the funds," he said.

"As soon as we get the

DOT to sign of and get us the money, we'll be out there," said Hearn.

But blame for the delay in

acquiring that right of way, say Hearn and others, remains with Peachtree

City Mayor Steve Brown.

"He's never supported

it," said Hearn. "Mr. Dunn (County Commission Chairman Greg

Dunn) wants me there turning dirt as soon as I can."

Brown hasn't been quiet about

his opposition to the extension, arguing that it will dump unwanted traffic

onto already crowded two-lane Ga. Highway 74 South.

City officials say the issue

there is four acres of additional right of way needed for the project

that's owned by Pathway Communities, previously known as Peachtree City

Development Corporation and still the largest landowner in the city.

A swap of four acres of city-owned

property set aside for park space was proposed, but Brown nixed it.

"I don't want to give

up anymore of our precious park land," said Brown, adding that "a

compromise" will be worked out.

He blamed the DIRECT PAC political

action group for stirring up the issue.

Hearn said his crews are busy

on other odd jobs around the county, but are set to move quickly to TDK

Boulevard when they get the word.

"I don't have any more

projects this important," he said. "As soon as we can get down

there and start working, we will."

The Fayette length of the road

is just three-quarters of a mile, but Coweta County must carve a whole

new road out of the woodlands and is more anxious to get started.

"They have a lot more

work to do," Hearn said.

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