Commissioners asked to support single-lane roundabout at SR 61, county would assume lighting and landscaping costs

Paulding County staff asked the Board of Commissioners to authorize the chairman to sign a letter supporting the Georgia Department of Transportations plan to install a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of SR 61 (Cartersville Highway), Cochran Road and Harmony Grove Church Road.

Staff said GDOT is funding and managing preliminary engineering, right-of-way, utility work and construction. The requested county letter would confirm local support and state that the county will pay to energize the roundabouts streetlight system and assume responsibility for the lightsoperation and maintenance going forward. Staff also said GDOT requires local governments to assume mowing and landscape maintenance for roundabout projects; the letter would note the countys acceptance of that obligation.

A commissioner asked whether SR 61 is scheduled to be widened to four lanes in some segments; staff replied that widening is in the program on the south end (Nebo Road to north of U.S. 278, fiscal year 2026) while the north end remains long-range with no engineering underway. The question prompted discussion of why GDOT proposed a single-lane roundabout instead of a double-lane facility.

Staff said additional local agreements would follow later in the process, including local lighting agreements and mowing/maintenance agreements. During the recorded discussion, staff concluded that the project is "a worthwhile project" and requested the boards signature on the letter of support. The transcript does not record a formal motion or a recorded vote on the letter during the excerpt provided.

The staff presentation emphasized that GDOT will fund major project components but expects the county to accept certain ongoing operational costs if the roundabout is constructed.