A four-year transportation plan for Georgia counties could mean over 7.7 million in federal dollars will be spent in Dawson before 2021, with over $10 million total spent on bridge replacements, roundabouts and other roads projects.

The state’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program has been released, in draft form, and public meetings have been arranged for area residents who want to get a closer look at the plans and ask questions of Georgia Department of Transportation officials.

The meetings are set for Sept. 11 in Helen and Sept. 12 in Maysville on projects planned for Banks, Barrow, Dawson, Elbert, Franklin, Habersham, Hart, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison, Oconee, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, Walton and White counties.

The Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP, specifies federally funded transportation projects for rural communities for fiscal years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

It is aimed at “improving the mobility of people and goods across the state, expanding Georgia’s role in global commerce, reducing injury and loss of life on Georgia’s roadways and prioritizing investments in Georgia’s transportation infrastructure assets,” a DOT press release states.

Those attending the public meetings can view maps of projects, discuss projects with DOT staff and formally offer comments. The meetings are open to the public and all are encouraged and welcome to attend.

According to the release, counties that are designated as part of “metropolitan areas” review all of their projects through their Metropolitan Planning Organization and will have their public review done independently.

The counties in Northeast Georgia included in Metropolitan Planning Organizations (areas with more than 50,000 in population) and not a part of the STIP are Clarke, Forsyth, Gwinnett and Hall.  

The Draft FY 2018-21 STIP is available online at http:/www.dot.ga.gov/IS/STIP. Projects for Dawson County are outlined on pages 232 through 235.

Statewide Transportation Improvement Program

What: Public meetings on 2018-21 roads plan

When/where: 5-7 p.m. Sept. 11 at Helen City Hall, 25 Alpenrosen Strasse; and 5-7 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Pat Bell Conference Center, 7020 Ga. 82 Connector, Maysville

More info: The draft and current plans can be viewed at http://www.dot.ga.gov/InvestSmart/Pages/STIP.aspx. Plans for Dawson County begin on page 232 of the 2018-2021 draft.