Published Saturday, June 27, 2009

Stimulus money to fund Senoia intersection work

By Sarah Fay Campbell

The Times-Herald

One of Senoia's most-needed road projects is set for letting in the next few months, thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The intersection improvement at Highway 16, Luther Bailey Road, and Broad Street has been approved for the federal stimulus funding.

The project will receive $1,578,705 in stimulus money for construction, and will go out for bid in August.

Also included in the recent stimulus announcement is resurfacing of Highway 54 from the Meriwether County line to "south of State Route 16."

The intersection improvement will include a traffic light, and Senoia Mayor Robert Belisle said it is his understanding that Broad Street and Luther Bailey Road will be realigned to create a typical four-point intersection.

The intersection improvement has been needed for many years.

"The first month I was in office as mayor, I attended a meeting on that one," said Belisle, who took office in January 2006.

"I'm just glad it is finally going to happen. It is a dangerous intersection that needs to be fixed," he said.

The need has been there for years. "And with the increase in traffic on Highway 16, the need has just gotten more pressing," Belisle said.

The intersection project is definitely the most needed in the city itself, though when it comes to the project that would affect Senoia residents the most, "it may be tied" with the intersection of Highway 74 and Rockaway Road in Peachtree City, Belisle said.