GDOT seeks Spalding County support for single-lane roundabout at SR‑155/North McDonough; county to handle lighting and maintenance

The Georgia Department of Transportation has asked Spalding County for a local support letter for a proposed single‑lane roundabout at the intersection of State Route 155 and North McDonough Road, county staff said March 3.

County staff (Dr. Ledbetter) told the board the roundabout is part of a larger redesignation of SR‑155 as it shifts alignment and that the project would move from a locally billed phase into a GDOT-funded phase 2. "When we move into phase 2, we won't be on the hook any further," staff said. But staff also warned the county would have ongoing responsibilities for operation and maintenance of the roundabout including lighting and utility relocations if the design requires them.

Timeline and design: GDOT’s current program listed a target construction completion as late as 2036 for the broader project; staff told commissioners they expect the schedule to be expedited and that the requested letter would support moving the intersection work into the next phase. The planned roundabout would be a single lane, designed to accommodate commercial vehicles in the corridor.

Costs and obligations: Commissioners asked whether the county would face utility‑relocation costs; staff confirmed utility relocations and lighting installations associated with the new roundabout would be a county responsibility going forward, and those would represent ongoing operations and maintenance expenses. Staff said they will provide commissioners with the county’s historic costs for prior phases and with an itemization of any outstanding local obligations.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to prepare the support letter and related cost estimates for any anticipated utility‑relocation or maintenance obligations before the regular meeting.