Consultants present 'Wildcat Plan' for Sixes Road/Old Highway 5 area, recommend new bridge, slip ramps and multimodal connections

Consultants from Kimley‑Horn presented the final Wildcat Plan to the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners on July 1, laying out transportation and development recommendations to unlock development potential near the Sixes Road and Old Highway 5 interchange along the I‑575 corridor.

Christina Pastor, project manager for Kimley‑Horn, said the plan grew from a year of technical analysis, stakeholder outreach and public meetings and was coordinated with the cities of Woodstock and Holly Springs and the Cherokee Office of Economic Development. "This is an area where there has been a lot of desire to see some new development opportunities," Pastor said.

The study area is bounded by the Little River and Army Corps property on the south, a cemetery to the north, I‑575 to the west and a railroad to the east. The report identified existing congestion — including a current Level of Service E at the Holly Springs Parkway/Sixes Road intersection — and projected that, under a no‑build scenario, operations at multiple intersections would deteriorate over 20 years.

Key transportation recommendations: - Realign the Sixes Road/Holly Springs Parkway intersection to improve operations. Pastor said the intersection is a high priority because it currently operates at Level of Service E. - Widen Holly Springs Parkway and Main Street from one to two lanes in each direction with medians and turn lanes where needed. - Create a new connection across I‑575 (NC1) north of the study area as a non‑ramp overpass, paired with slip ramps on the interstate that would let traffic access the development area without using the current Ridgewalk or Sixes interchanges. Pastor described the slip ramps as merging with arterial connections to reach the new bridge and noted the concept has been studied for geometric feasibility. - Add several new arterial and one‑way connector links south of I‑575 and internal roadways (including extensions of existing roads) to distribute traffic to the new bridge and slip‑ramp network. - Prioritize active transportation by adding sidepaths and sidewalks, and require green space within development sites.

Pastor said the team modeled scenarios that included both the recommended transportation network and potential development yields. The plan reduced the study-area development from initial proposals to a level the network could support and still showed intersections operating at an acceptable Level of Service (no worse than D in the modeled futures).

Cost and funding: Pastor presented planning‑level cost estimates and two inflation scenarios (3% and 5% annually) and said project costs assume preliminary engineering, environmental screening, right‑of‑way, utility relocation and construction. She suggested a mix of funding options: a local T‑SPLOST (discussed later in the meeting), state programs, Atlanta Regional Commission/GDOT funding, discretionary grants and public‑private partnerships such as a community improvement district.

Commission discussion: Commissioners asked technical questions about where slip‑ramp access would be located, how the ramps would merge with frontage roads, and the number and locations of new bridges. Pastor said the project set includes seven bridges in total (including replacements and new crossings over Little River and the railroad). Several commissioners praised the outreach and the plan as a long‑range blueprint; Commissioner Wetherbee called the plan “a good start.”

Ending: Pastor recommended adoption of the Wildcat Plan and suggested pursuing near‑term projects such as the Sixes/Holly Springs realignment, plus intergovernmental agreements with municipal partners and pursuit of funding. The board indicated support for adoption; formal action appears on the regular agenda for confirmation.