Ware County gets final draft of Comprehensive Transportation Plan and bypass study; staff seeks comments before year‑end adoption

County planning consultants delivered a brief update to the Ware County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 13 on the final draft Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) and an associated bypass study.

Consultants said the CTP update includes short‑, medium‑ and long‑term priority projects across 5‑, 10‑ and 20‑plus‑year horizons and recommended coordinating the final plan with municipalities and the regional commission before forwarding to Georgia DOT. The bypass study evaluated eight bypass alternatives, including three southern options that scored higher for lower environmental and right‑of‑way impacts; one southern route had a preliminary order‑of‑magnitude cost estimate discussed in the packet.

Presenters summarized employment and commuting statistics used in the plan (roughly 12,000–14,000 people work in the Ware County study area with a near 50/50 split between residents who live and work in the county and those who commute in or out). Staff asked commissioners to review the large packet, provide comments in the coming weeks, and consider adoption before the end of the year so the county could send the adopted plan to GDOT and lobby during the legislative session.

Commissioners asked about potential river crossings, environmental and right‑of‑way impacts and expected to schedule time to review the draft in more detail with staff.