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Whitfield County accepts $200,000 MPO grant and approves traffic study for Doug Gap Road
Summary
The commissioners approved a grant-funded transportation study for Doug Gap Road, awarding the contract to an engineering firm and agreeing to a 20% local match; the study aims to produce traffic counts and recommendations to qualify for future construction grants.
The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners approved acceptance of a $200,000 grant from the regional MPO program and awarded the Doug Gap Road corridor study to an engineering consultant, with the county (and the city where applicable) providing the required local match.
Commissioners agreed the study is intended to collect baseline traffic counts, analyze congestion at known trouble spots such as the Dug Gap Road–Walnut Avenue intersection and develop options — from lane changes to roundabouts — that could be eligible for future construction grants.
Kent Benson, chair of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, told the board the MPO’s long-range plan had already identified the Dug Gap/Walnut intersection as a primary congestion point. “We need a hard count on the traffic,” Benson said. “The traffic counts wouldn’t be done until school is back in session.” He said the study’s findings could make the county eligible for additional grant funding to fund actual construction work.
Commissioners said the $200,000 grant requires a 20% match; the county and the city will split the local share for the portion of the road that lies inside the city limits. The board approved awarding the study to Gresham Smith for approximately $199,878 (award amount reported in the meeting packet as just under $200,000). Commissioner Jones moved to approve the study award and match; Commissioner Staton seconded. The motion passed 4-0.
Chairman Jensen and other commissioners said the study is a necessary step before committing to construction, and stressed the importance of independent analysis for grant applications. The MPO and county staff will schedule traffic counts and return findings to the commission when available.
