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Project 4
Rerouting of State Route 36-UPDATE
Over the years, many citizens have made requests or voiced their concerns about truck traffic in downtown Covington. The Mayor and other City Leaders have been in discussion with the Georgia Department of Transportation on a state level to seek a solution to this problem. The solution to this problem will be the rerouting of State Route 36. The East Covington bypass, Eagle Dr./Dr. M. L. King Jr. Ave, will become State Route 36. Jackson Hwy, Monticello St., Church St. and Clark St. will be removed from the State Road system, thus reducing the through traffic to downtown Covington. There have been several hurdles that had to be overcome for this swap to take place. The first hurdle is the condition of the existing S.R. 36. This issue will be resolved in the July/August timeframe, as the Georgia Department of Transportation will resurface S.R. 36 under Projects P.I. M003939 and P.I. M003940. Another significant hurdle is the grade crossing of the Great Walton Railroad on Eagle Dr. near Dearing St. There are two possible solutions, one is that Newton County and the City of Covington purchase the Great Walton Railroad right-of-way and convert it to a multiuse trail thus the railroad being removed or the Georgia Department of Transportation installing appropriate warning devices to make this crossing as safe as possible. Other small hurdles include the golf cart tunnels under Eagle Dr. The swap of right-of-way should complete by yearend 2010.
UPDATE-October 28, 2009
Resurfacing of the existing S.R. 36 has been completed except for a few punch list items.