Barrow County public works director Terry Darragh told members of the county board of commissioners that funding remains an issue as the county works to complete a growing list of infrastructure projects.
Addressing the BOC at Friday’s retreat in Commerce, Darragh reviewed project priorities and said the focus for his department is on identifying the most important projects that can be accomplished with current funding.
Darragh explained that the county’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) has six primary goals: Include all modes of transportation; reduce travel time and congestion; promote improved safety and efficiency; involve the community; improve air and water quality; and evaluate land use impacts.
With the list of road projects alone topping $632 million, Darragh said prioritizing is critical.
According to Darragh, even if all the projects listed in the CTP are built, there are areas of Hwy. 316 and Hwy. 211 that will be overcapacity by 2030. If the projects are not completed, several other roads, including Dee Kennedy, Hwy. 11 and Hwy. 81 will be added to that list.
Darragh said the West Winder Bypass is a key project in alleviating traffic woes within the county, but funding for the project has been pushed back forcing the county to consider alternatives.
Darragh told the board that while new roads are needed, ongoing road maintenance is also a major concern. Many roads have exceeded their lifecycle and need paving rehabilitation, Darragh said.
Additionally, there are 10 dirt roads on the list to be paved and several others needing repairs, he added. Funding has not been identified for those projects.
WATER AND SEWER
Darragh also reviewed several water and sewer projects currently nearing completion and discussed an ongoing water supply study.
Jordan, Jones and Goulding Engineering is conducting a study for the county that will identify existing and future needs of water providers in the area. The study is expected to identify future water supply sources and list opportunities for the county and cities to cooperatively plan and construct future projects. Darragh said he expects the study to be completed within the next few months.
Another major concern for the public works department is stormwater management, Darragh said. There are numerous detention ponds and storm drains currently in need of repairs, he said. Some 75 of the 300 detention ponds in the county need repairs and 150 need maintenance work completed.
The majority of the work is unfunded by the state, Darragh said. He added his department will need additional staff to meet future demands and maintain compliance with state regulations
