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Committee advances supplemental GDOT agreement, design-contract increase for Wrightsboro Road widening
Summary
Columbia County staff asked the committee to recognize a $1.25 million ARTS MPO supplemental agreement for preliminary engineering and to approve a $1,245,496 amendment to the Benesch design contract to complete PE, right-of-way and final design; staff said NEPA requirements and funding availability will shape a tentative 2032 letting for a project estimated at about $30 million.
Columbia County staff told the Development Planning Services Committee on June 9 that the county needs to recognize supplemental federal-state project funding and increase a design contract to finish the preliminary engineering (PE) and move the Wrightsboro Road widening project toward final design.
Mr. Titus, a county planner presenting the item, said, “This first item is supplemental agreement number two to the project framework agreement with GDOT for the Wrightsboro Road widening project. Staff requested an additional 1.25 million through the ARTS MPO to finish the PE phase of this project in April of 2026. You authorized that request. So, this is just a mechanism recognizing that additional funding. So, staff recommends approval.”
Why it matters: staff said the county and its consultants now better understand the project's NEPA requirements, right-of-way impacts and environmental issues, which informed the need for added design funding. The county previously authorized $2,815,000 to consultant Benesch to start PE; the committee was asked to approve Amendment No. 1, increasing Benesch's contract by $1,245,496 to complete PE, proceed through right-of-way, and finish final design.
Staff noted the project remains large in scope and funding-uncertain. The presenter said the total project is likely to cost about $30 million and that construction letting is targeted for 2032, contingent on securing federal and local funding and reimbursement mechanisms. The presenter told the committee that NEPA review is the most complex element for federally funded work.
The committee moved both items to the consent agenda for approval to meet the deadline for authorizing reimbursements and to keep the design phase on schedule. The transcript records the committee moving the items to consent and staff recommending approval; the formal vote tally is not specified in the record.
What happens next: staff will finalize the supplemental-agreement paperwork with GDOT and work through the reimbursable agreement with the ARTS MPO. The amendment to Benesch's contract, once authorized, will allow the consultant to complete PE, initiate right-of-way work, and develop final design documents ahead of later funding and permitting steps.
Note on names/spellings: the consultant name appeared in the transcript both as "Benish" and "Benesch." County staff identified the consultant in discussion; this article uses the spelling Benesch for the design firm to reflect the consistent firm name used in county contracting.
Ending: Staff recommended approval of the supplemental agreement and contract amendment; the committee moved the items to consent. The record does not show a roll-call tally in the transcript.
