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Commissioners: Perimeter‑road Question Expected on May 19 Ballot; Feasibility Study to Be Released
Summary
Commissioners said a perimeter‑road referendum for Ware, Pierce and Brantley counties is expected on the May 19 primary ballot; officials said wording and a feasibility study will be shared with county commissions and the public before the vote.
The Ware County Board of Commissioners heard an update Dec. 8 that a perimeter‑road question is expected to appear on the May 19 primary ballot across Ware, Pierce and Brantley counties.
A commissioner (speaker 2) said the final ballot question wording is still being drafted by state representatives and will be circulated to the affected county commissions for review and public input. "Once they get the question together, they'll distribute it to the different county commissions for Ware, Pierce and Brantley, and then we'll review those," the commissioner said.
The commissioner described the item as a simple yes/no question and emphasized that detailed routing, location and environmental work remains subject to Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) planning and future engineering studies. He said a perimeter feasibility study — which includes route alternatives and traffic analyses — will be released to the public in roughly one to two weeks and that 100 printed copies will be made available and the plan posted online.
Speakers cautioned that even if the referendum passes, planning, environmental review, design and funding could mean many years before construction: the commissioner estimated that, if advanced immediately, it could be at least 15 years before construction begins given planning and funding timelines. He also noted previous local investments (a cited $10 million in SPLSOS/sploss dollars) intended to accelerate related projects.
Commissioners and members of the public asked whether the public will have hearings and more substantive materials before the vote; officials said they expect the ballot language and study to be made public so voters can review the question prior to May.
