Paulding County moves forward on several road projects; board reviews engineering and right-of-way supplements

Paulding County commissioners heard multiple transportation items in a single discussion block that involved supplemental engineering work, right-of-way acquisition services and a utility-relocation contract for roundabout work.

The county requested authorization for a supplemental agreement with BM&K for additional right-of-way acquisition work on the SR 92 at Due West Road intersection improvement project. Staff reported an initial purchase order of $47,430 had been issued on May 16, 2024; additional appraisals and negotiations prompted a revised quote of $21,770.61, bringing the total requested right-of-way funding to $69,261. The supplemental agreement was presented as an allocation from SPLOST funds.

Staff also requested a supplemental agreement with Croix Engineering LLC for preliminary engineering on the Bill Carruth Parkway at Laird Road restricted crossing U-turn (RCUT) project. County staff said the RCUT design previously developed in 2017 needed revision after the property owner’s conceptual development plan conflicted with the originally planned west-side U-turn; staff recommended relocating the U-turn to Bill Carruth Parkway and Panter School Road, with an $18,500 supplemental request to cover plan revisions, drainage design, utility coordination and right-of-way plotting. If approved, staff said the engineering phase budget would be $58,350.

The board considered a contract with Kimley-Horn to incorporate water and sewer utility relocation design into the Bobo Road roundabout projects. Staff described the contract as not-to-exceed $75,000 from the Water and Sewer Renewal and Extension Fund, split into $55,000 for design services and $20,000 for limited construction services, subject to project management that could reduce costs.

Commissioner Jordan Dunn announced upcoming public meetings tied to major corridor projects and invited public input: a September 11 meeting on Cedar Crest Road widening (Harmony Grove Church Road to the Cobb County line) and September 18 meetings on the Dallas-Acworth widening scoping study (Mount Tabor Church Road to State Highway 92) and the Dallas-Hackworth Corridor improvement (South of Bobo Road to North of Due West Road). Dunn said the meetings will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at local schools.

Outcome and next steps: Staff presented recommendations and requested authorization; the transcript records the presentations and questions but does not record final votes or motions for the supplemental agreements and contracts. The record indicates funding sources (SPLOST and Water and Sewer Renewal and Extension Fund) but not final board action in the transcript.

Ending: County staff emphasized the projects are part of a 20-year planning horizon and that design choices (RCUT vs. roundabout vs. signal) are informed by projected traffic and future development.