I have often thought over the last ten years that there are no big, influential developers connected to this strip of road (441 South). Even the Mars Hill –Experiment Rd project was changed in priority and is ten years behind the original schedule……….

AVOC

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September 15, 2011

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Oconee County - Image- Weeds & Weeds – U.S. 441

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By Wendell Dawson, Editor, AVOC, Inc

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US 441 AS MAJOR NORTH-SOUTH CORRIDOR

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U S 441 is a major north-south GA route that comes right through Oconee County.   It connects us to Interstate 20 at Madison and, with the widening of Experiment Road and Mars Hill Rd, will connect to GA 316 and I-85.    This project received much attention during my administrations from 1989 to 2000, with State support and with the influence of Senator Paul Broun and Representative Frank Stancil.   We expected the four-laning to Madison to be completed by now.  Heritage Park was built with a four-lane in mind.

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Oconee Veterans Parkway- (US 441) -9.15.11

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Oconee Veterans Parkway - (US 441) - 9.15.11

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U S 441 –Watkinsville By Pass is named Oconee Veterans Parkway as a memorial to our veterans.   However, it is looking like a rural road of yesteryear.

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US 441 is the main route for much traffic, from the southern part of the state,  to the University of Georgia, Georgia Football games, to go to the mountains of North Georgia and much more.   These factors were used to justify the widening of Mars Hill-Experiment Road –connect I-20 and I-85 or improve Oconee Access for both.   However, the US 441 project has fell behind with the current county leadership.   They have not even included it or any of it in the big T-SPLOST ten year project plan that will be voted on by voters next year.

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8-3-11 Regional Transportation-SPLOST Project Final List for NEGA

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SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

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The US 441 South road has had many fatal accidents over the decades.  It has too many curves and hills.   Safety improvement alone is justification for improving the stretch between Watkinsville and Madison. 9-30-02 - Two More Deaths on U S 441 South in Oconee near Morgan Line

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OCONEE COUNTY HAS HAD OTHER PRIORITIES FOR TEN YEARS

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In depth consideration would support the US 441 project.   I have often thought over the last ten years that there are no big, influential developers connected to this strip of road.   Even the Mars Hill –Experiment Rd project was changed in priority and is ten years behind the original schedule.6-21-08 Questions About Melvin Davis’ $ 26 Million Road Project

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Instead, our resources and influence have been used to move the “Oconee Connector Project” to the front of the line   .As a result, we have a Cadillac of a road crossing the Loop on the expectation of a big commercial development.   If the burst of the ‘Housing Bubble’ and empty commercial buildings have not sunk in, then this “road to nowhere” will make it much more obvious.   It is highly doubtful that a large commercial development will be coming for several years.   There are too many empty buildings in Oconee and Clarke Counties.

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WEEDS & WEEDS

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A county’s image is negatively impacted with litter and weeds along the roadside.   Oconee County is seeing a lot of Weeds these days and litter is not picked up as in the past.

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Oconee Veterans Parkway @ GA 15 - 9.15.11

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To show the lack of interest and influence of our county leadership, drive down U S 441 or Oconee Veterans Parkway and look at the weeds that are leaning over the travel lanes.   I have noticed the inattention to this stretch of road for several months.   Clarke County’s end is not overrun with weeds.   I kept thinking the first GA Football Home Game would get the Right of Way cut.   We often reminded the GA DOT in the past of the appearance of the road and heavy fall traffic and it was always cut before the first game.

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Oconee Veterans Parkway (US 441) -9.15.11

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Oconee Veterans Parkway (US 441) -9.15.11

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QUESTION:    Does Melvin Davis or any of the commissioners ever drive U S 441?!?

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COUNTY ROADS ALSO NEGLECTED

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Neglect is not limited to State Routes in Oconee County.   Jennings Mill Road, near the Country Club and a number of Office Complexes also has weeds at least head high.   It is not a great view for persons patronizing the professionals in this area.

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Jennings Mill Road at Jennings Mill CC 9-15-11

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Jennings Mill Road at Office Complex 9-15-11

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9-30-02 - Two More Deaths on U S 441 South in Oconee near Morgan Line

   http://www.avoc.info/info/article.php?article=2054&ENGINEsessID=17b2d735ac4bdc15b466cf4540ba7246

Two men were killed in an automobile accident in Oconee County near the Morgan County line… on 441 South in Oconee……..

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12-30-01 - U.S. 441 Widening (Jackson, Oconee & Morgan), GRIP, GARVEE BONDS

http://www.avoc.info/info/article.php?article=2089&ENGINEsessID=17b2d735ac4bdc15b466cf4540ba7246

   (U S 441) is critical length to I-20 between the Watkinsville By-Pass in Oconee County and the Madison By-Pass in Morgan County

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4-4-04 Max Lockwood’s Passing is Loss to Entire State -- U. S. 441 Advocate

http://www.avoc.info/info/article.php?article=1069&ENGINEsessID=045403911bf810d1dff2277456ea4729

   U S 441 is an important corridor for this state.   If and when the four-lane is completed the full length, Max Lockwood needs to be appreciated for his tireless efforts for all of us for the last ten years or more.

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11-15-04 U S Highway 441 to be Widened in Clarke and Jackson Counties

http://www.avoc.info/info/article.php?article=1951&ENGINEsessID=045403911bf810d1dff2277456ea4729

U. S. 441 is an important north-south corridor.It is a great connector for I-20 and I-85.It needs some push from area legislators to move it along.

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5-2-05 Major GA DOT Projects Underway in Area But Not Oconee County

   http://www.avoc.info/info/article.php?article=2800&ENGINEsessID=045403911bf810d1dff2277456ea4729

             The Athens Banner-Herald - April 16, 2005

            U.S. Highway 441, widening from the Clarke County line north to the Commerce bypass. Now under construction; scheduled for completion in March 2007.

   U.S. Highway 129, widening from Lavender Road in Athens to the Jefferson bypass. Now under construction; scheduled for completion in December 2006.

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8-16-05 - GA DOT Holds Pubic Information Session on Widening US 441 in Oconee & Morgan

   http://www.avoc.info/info/article.php?article=3021&ENGINEsessID=045403911bf810d1dff2277456ea4729

   The long awaited Public Information session on the US 441 widening project was held on August 15, 2005, at the Oconee Civic Center.There were three sets of maps of the route displayed on different walls.Many GA DOT representatives were there to answer questions and provide information.Attendees were given handouts and maps.

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6-21-08 Questions About Melvin Davis’ $ 26 Million Road Project

http://www.avoc.info/info/article.php?article=3895&ENGINEsessID=045403911bf810d1dff2277456ea4729

    Davison said she was confused recently when DOT officials green-lighted more construction money for a new road in Oconee County, just weeks after saying they were shifting projects and narrowing focus because of a budget crisis.

"This is not about Oconee County, and it's not about the project. It's about fairness," Davison said Thursday at a called meeting of MACORTS, the tri-county transportation planning committee.

    Though the committee later voted unanimously to increase the Oconee project's budget to $ 26 million, Davison and another MACORTS member, Lucy Rowland, said they'd like a letter from DOT officials explaining exactly what "frozen" means.

   Rowland also called the circumstances of the special meeting, which quickly was scheduled last week, "strange."

    "I don't recall something coming in like this (in the past)," said Rowland, a longtime MACORTS member and current chairwoman of the Athens-Clarke County Planning Commission.

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7-27-08 Oconee Rep Bob Smith needs to help fund improvements to U S 441 South and GA 15

   http://www.avoc.info/info/article.php?article=3916&ENGINEsessID=045403911bf810d1dff2277456ea4729

…… when one considers the years of neglect of US 441 between Watkinsville and Madison, a project in the works for 15 years or more! During these years, we have had a Republican Governor (Perdue) and a Republican General Assembly. Maybe it would help if Developers Tom Little, et al would buy some property along these important corridors!!!! .

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5-25-10 Oconee Connector Project Over Loop- Economic Opportunity or ‘Road to nowhere’ or Both -    http://www.avoc.info/info/article.php?article=4091&ENGINEsessID=045403911bf810d1dff2277456ea4729

   With the approaching opening of the Oconee Connector Bridge over the Athens Loop, I have mixed emotions.   I was involved in the initial concept and the approval of the project by GA DOT.   However, it was intended to be built after the Mars Hill Road Parkway so it would feed into a four-lane system.    Economic Development was a consideration but traffic flow was the real incentive.  

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Oconee.Connector.Jennings.Mill.Pkwy.Project.3.08.pdfx