Work begins on 441 Bypass
Dirt moving on $97 million project 09/06/07
By NATALIE DAVIS

Two milestones come during the course of every major roadway expansion, the state’s top transportation official noted Wednesday.

Now, the dirt is moving, trucks are rolling, and the U.S. Hwy 441 Bypass has one more milestone to go.

Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Harold Linnenkohl joined state and local leaders Wednesday in breaking ground on the much-anticipated project — one of the largest on tap for the state this year.

“This is a really good day. I’m very pleased that we’re finally able to get something under contract,” said Linnenkohl, to an audience of around 200 on hand to witness the ceremony, a milestone within itself after years in the making.

State Rep. DuBose Porter, who has seen the project at various stages of development during the course of his more than 20 years in the legislature, said the bypass has toppled its fare share of hurdles successfully.

“At each of those stages,” he said, “we’ve overcome those roadblocks.”

He thanked city and county leaders both past and present for their cooperation and diligence in working to finally bring the project to reality.

“We’re here today to move some dirt,” said Porter. “We know this will be a reality for something really wonderful in Laurens County.”

Porter noted how the expansion of Hwy. 257 helped the area land such major projects as the Best Buy and Fred’s distribution centers and the Farmer’s Furniture expansion, adding that there are high expectations for even more industrial growth to arise from the new bypass.

In all, the development of the Hwy 257-Interstate 16 interchange, coupled with the five-laning of 257 and the bypass, will amount to around $97 million in DOT funds contributed to the area.

Spanning from U.S. 441 North west of the city limits to Firetower Road for nearly nine miles, the bypass alone will total more than $77 million upon completion.

Said Porter: “It is infrastructure improvements like this that have made Laurens County the crossroads of commerce that we’ve all worked so hard for.”

Other leaders echoed his sentiments.

“This is a great day for the entire area,” said his counterpart across the legislative aisle, state Sen. Ross Tolleson.

Tolleson said the project’s completion will make Laurens County an industrial hub, creating a pathway for more distributions centers and development in the local economic base.

The new bypass will help surge growth for the area, he said.

“This is going to be a great economic impact.”

Tolleson’s predecessor, former state Sen. Hugh Gillis, who worked alongside Porter for years during the project’s early stages said the completion of the bypass will not only be a benefit for the citizens of Laurens County, but for the rest of the traveling public as well.

“I know its going to be great for everybody.”

The project, an offshoot of the Governor’s Road Improvement Program created in 1987, will help to further development beyond Atlanta and the state’s urban other areas and “bring balance to the whole state,” according to Linnenkohl.

Enthusiasm for the project was already evident, he said, only adding to economic efforts in the area.

“You see the excitement and you see the joy, but you also see the support,” said Linnenkohl.

“You’ve got such a viable community here,” he said. “We’re just as pleased as can be to be a small part of this.”