Road-widening through the mountains: How do we find a locally preferred alternative that will minimize impacts on businesses and residents?
.
The Georgia Department of Transportation is currently planning to widen a portion of U.S. Highway 441 in Rabun County. The rest of Highway 441 in north Georgia and western North Carolina is at least four lanes, mostly divided, but the section from Clayton north to the North Carolina state line is undivided and ranges from three lanes in some locations to four lanes with a two-way turn lane in others. GDOT plans to widen the entire stretch to four lanes with a median and turn lanes, in the process taking out many buildings.
WaysSouth is coordinating a group of area citizens that is developing a locally preferred alternative that will minimize the impacts to local businesses and residents. The group intends to present its alternative to GDOT in the coming months.