Staff Writers
The Columbia County Commission scaled back some proposed road improvement projects during a meeting Tuesday.
Commissioners had discussed using a 1-cent sales tax to fund intersection improvements on Flowing Wells Road. They backed off because such improvements could jeopardize $30 million in state funding.
During a work session before the meeting, officials agreed to suspend the nearly $3.3 million project to temporarily fix the intersections of Flowing Wells at Columbia, Pleasant Home and Wheeler roads. The state Department of Transportation would require the county to take ownership of Flowing Wells Road to do that work. This might eliminate future DOT funding for widening.
County Deputy Administrator Scott Johnson said officials intend to negotiate with DOT to temporarily take ownership of Flowing Wells Road. Once improvements are complete, they want to return ownership to the state.
The commission also abandoned $400,000 of streetscape improvements at Columbia and Belair roads. The project included sidewalks, benches and lighting for 500 feet along each road. Instead, commissioners plan to see how far sidewalks alone might be extended with the funds.
About $775,000 for street parking, landscaped medians and underground utilities on Evans Town Center Boulevard was placed on hold pending a requested change to the Marshall Square development. The request, which includes adding residences, is scheduled to be heard by the Planning Commission on Feb. 5.
By abandoning these projects and others, the commission freed up more than $3.7 million in transportation contingency funds.
Reach Donnie Fetter at (706) 868-1222, ext. 115, or donnie.fetter@augustachronicle.com.
