Long-Awaited Improvements To Highway 201 Could Begin Early Next Year, Whitfield Official Says

Sharp curve at intersection with Lees Chapel Road will be eliminated, thanks to work paid for with 2015 SPLOST funds

  • Thursday, October 4, 2018
  • Mitch Talley, Whitfield County director of communications
When construction is completed, the two oncoming vehicles in this photo would continue west at the intersection with Lees Chapel Road onto a new section of Highway 201, instead of having to make the current sharp turn as shown to head south toward downtown Tunnel Hill. The new part of 201 will exit onto Highway 41 north of Hideaway Drive.
When construction is completed, the two oncoming vehicles in this photo would continue west at the intersection with Lees Chapel Road onto a new section of Highway 201, instead of having to make the current sharp turn as shown to head south toward downtown Tunnel Hill. The new part of 201 will exit onto Highway 41 north of Hideaway Drive.
photo by Mitch Talley

Construction is expected to begin early next year on a road project dreamed about for more than 20 years, according to a Whitfield County official.

Proceeds from the 2015 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) will pay for the straightening of a 90-degree turn on Highway 201 in Tunnel Hill, according to Whitfield County Engineer Kent Benson.

“This is a project that was first discussed with GDOT (Georgia Department of Transportation) back in the late 1990s,” Mr. Benson said. “Then it was considered for the 2007 SPLOST list, and we actually did some preliminary work back then, just looking at potential routes, but we didn’t do much because there wasn’t enough money. Then when we developed the 2015 SPLOST list, the commissioners wanted this project on the list.”

The work will involve the construction of a new section of Highway 201 that will straighten the curve by going west about 8/10ths of a mile beginning at Lees Chapel Road, crossing over Old Lake Road, and then exiting onto U.S. 41 north of Hideaway Drive. 

“Then you can either turn left into Tunnel Hill,” Mr. Benson said, “or turn right to go back toward Ringgold.”

Construction will also include additional improvements to the intersections at Lees Chapel Road and U.S. 41, including a turn lane where the new part of Highway 201 will make its exit.

Mr. Benson says the project will provide several benefits, including the removal of truck traffic from residential areas and school zones in downtown Tunnel Hill.

Currently, after negotiating the current sharp turn at Lees Chapel Road, big trucks still have to negotiate a sharp right-hand turn onto narrow Church Street before exiting onto U.S. 41, he said. 
“The new road will eliminate that problem,” Mr. Benson said, “and will also provide a new alternate route if there’s ever a wreck on I-75. Traffic will be able to detour off the interstate, come down 41, take the new part of 201, and then get back on the interstate at the Tunnel Hill/Varnell exit without ever having to come into downtown Tunnel Hill. The project will also open up possibilities for property owners along the new stretch of road to develop their property if they want to, and of course we’ll also eliminate the sharp curve and obvious safety issues at Lees Chapel Road.”

Mr. Benson hopes the project will be put out to bid by the end of this year or early 2019, with construction likely to be completed sometime in 2020.

Design work for the project actually dates back to 2015 after voters approved the SPLOST. “We had to do all the surveying and all the upfront environmental work to see if there were any things we needed to try to avoid with our new road route,” Mr. Benson explained.

The county considered four routes to find the most economical one that would avoid displacing any residences.

“The route we settled on is the cheapest one and it doesn’t take anybody’s house,” Mr. Benson said. “Once we chose the route, we began geo-tech work to make sure we wouldn’t run into a huge cost removing rock from a ridge that is midway of the new section of the road. We discovered the rock is deep enough there that we believe we can build it economically.”

Once the preliminary design of the road was completed, that defined how much right-of-way was required.

“It turned out there are 24 parcels affected by the construction,” Mr. Benson said, “so that means there are 24 different landowners we have to approach with an offer. We negotiate with each of them and agree on a final price, and then every parcel has to have a closing just like if you’re buying a house. There are 24 different real estate transactions, so it takes time to get all that done.”

He expects the acquisition of the last few right-of-way parcels to be completed soon, leading to the drafting of the final engineering plans and the letting of the construction bids in the next few months.

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