Widening Hwy 61, GA DOT Wants Paulding's Public Input

DALLAS, GA — A public information open house to discuss the proposed project to widen and improve GA Hwy 61 in Paulding County is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17, from 5 until 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Chattahoochee Technical College Paulding Hall, located at 400 Nathan Dean Boulevard in the city of Dallas, Georgia.

Paulding County's residents interested in learning more about the proposed project are encouraged to attend the meeting and express their thoughts and preferences.

"we would like to hear the viewpoints and concerns of all area residents," says DeWayne Comer, district engineer at the Georgia DOT office in Cartersville.

The proposed plans call for the widening and improvement of State Route (SR) 61 from south of Dallas Nebo Road to US 278/SR 120/Dallas Bypass, for a distance of approximately 4.37 miles. The existing roadway consists of 2-12 ft. lanes with 4 ft. grass shoulders, and 3-12 ft. lanes are present for approximately 0.25 miles. From the beginning of the project for approximately 1 mile heading toward SR 120 Connector, the proposed improvements include the construction of 2-11 ft. lanes in each direction, a variable flush median, and a 12 ft. urban shoulder with 5 ft. sidewalks. For the remainder of the project for approximately 3.5 miles, from SR 120 Connector to US 278, the proposed improvements include 2-11 ft. lanes in each direction, a raised 20 ft. median and a 12 ft. urban shoulder with 5 ft. sidewalks.

“The Georgia DOT strongly believes that since these improvements to SR 61 are intended to serve the people of Paulding County, the ideas and preferences of these people are important and can make a difference in our planning process,” Comer explains. “This meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to review the proposed project, ask questions, and express their preferences.”

The proposed project is intended to provide additional capacity required for future growth in the area, as SR 61 is the only continuous north-south corridor in Paulding County linking Dallas to both Cartersville to the north and I-20 to the south. The purpose of this widening project is to ease traffic congestion and decrease crash frequency and/or severity along this busy stretch of roadway.

The Open House will be informal and the public is invited to attend anytime between 5 and 7 p.m. The meeting site is accessible to persons with disabilities. Accommodations for people with disabilities can be arranged with advance notice by calling Joseph Ciavarro District Planning & Programming Engineer at 678-721-5164 phone number.

Written statements will be accepted concerning this project until Tuesday, May 1, 2018. Written statements may be submitted to:

Mr. Eric Duff, State Environmental Administrator
Georgia Department of Transportation
Office of Environmental Services
600 West Peachtree Street, NW – 16th Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30308

Georgia Department of Transportation plans, constructs and maintains Georgia’s state and federal highways. We’re involved in bridge, waterway, public transit, rail, general aviation, bike and pedestrian programs. And we help local governments maintain their roads. Georgia DOT is committed to providing a safe, seamless and sustainable transportation system that supports Georgia’s economy and is sensitive to its citizens and its environment.

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