Jones County OKs letter supporting Vulcan Materials' proposed Highway 49 quarry entrance, pending easements

Jones County commissioners agreed Aug. 19 to authorize a county letter indicating support for Vulcan Materials’ proposed entrance design on Georgia Highway 49, provided the company secures and conveys required easements and coordinates utility relocations.

The request, introduced to the board by Mr. Redding, asked the county to confirm that the proposed entrance satisfies the county’s concerns so Vulcan can move forward with a Georgia Department of Transportation permit. Bridal Storkey, director of engineering for Vulcan Materials’ South Division, and members of the company’s project team answered commissioners’ questions during a discussion that lasted roughly an hour.

The project would remove the existing acute-angle Garrison Road intersection and replace it with a new entrance on Highway 49 serving the quarry. Sean Hampton, an engineer with Watkins Associates, said the design includes a widened pavement section and “we’re putting in a left-hand turn lane,” to allow trucks to divert off the travel lane and turn into the site.

Commissioners and residents raised concerns about rock and dust carried onto County roads and the potential impact on motorists and school buses. Daniel (identified in the meeting as the quarry plant manager) told the board the company requires covered loads at the site and that it operates wash stations at the entrance; he added the company monitors truck numbers and attempts to hold individual drivers accountable when they identify debris or damage. “We do require covered beds when the trucks come out of our facilities,” Daniel said.

County staff and Vulcan representatives also discussed the need to negotiate easements where the new pavement would affect existing water lines. Vulcan said it would coordinate with county engineers on any necessary water-line upgrades and provide easements where the project crosses county-owned facilities.

After discussion the board voted to authorize the chairman to sign a letter to GDOT stating the county’s acceptance of the proposed entrance design, with the condition that the company secure any required easements and resolve utility relocation or upgrade needs first. The board’s approval was contingent on those easements being conveyed to the county.

The county also asked for plans to accommodate school-bus traffic and to provide a turnaround for local vehicles on Garrison Road, since the existing through access will be closed where the quarry’s new inbound-only access is established. Vulcan agreed to review bus routing and to consider a small turnaround or cul-de-sac for local traffic.

The county’s action is limited to issuing an approval letter for GDOT permitting and does not itself grant easements or change any right-of-way until the easement documents are executed and conveyed to the county.