Madison County project team backs five-lane design for Stripling Road between Highway 463 and Deweese Road

Shannon Wells of Garver updated Madison County officials on the Stripling Road project, which would widen the corridor between Highway 463 and Deweese Road and add intersection improvements at Camden Crossing, the entrance to Lake Caroline.

Wells said the traffic analysis “supports a 5 lane configuration throughout the entire segment of the project,” and that the project has received written clearance from archives and history for cultural resources, clearing that hurdle before submission to the Corps pending a few final design items.

Wells said the roadway model is about 75% complete, storm‑drainage design is under way and preliminary drawings for some elements have begun. She projected that the environmental report will be submitted within the next three months and that preliminary plans should be complete by the end of the year in a worst‑case schedule.

On utilities, Wells told the county that, except for overhead power, the affected utility companies said they could design and relocate facilities within six months after being given preliminary right‑of‑way plans. “On power, energy will begin design once the right of way is actually purchased by the county,” she said, and that power design itself would take about three to four months, putting overhead power on the critical path for advertising the project.

Wells estimated about 40 to 45 parcels will be affected by right‑of‑way acquisitions and said that number has declined as design has progressed. She added title work and boundary surveys will begin for affected parcels and that a gas pipeline crossing permit is needed but not on the project’s critical path.

Wells also said county staff met with the Hartfield homeowners association to explain that the HOA’s existing, unrestricted entrance (allowing both right and left turns) likely will not remain feasible after construction; alternatives were discussed and the project team will follow up with the HOA.

County staff asked for clarification on the number of partial takes; Wells replied the count is roughly 40–45 and noted potential additional impacts where the new section must transition to existing neighborhood streets.

Next steps Wells listed for the near term are submitting the environmental report, completing preliminary design sheets (including traffic control and maintaining traffic during construction), continuing utility coordination, and starting right‑of‑way acquisition activities.