Russell R. McMurry, P.E.

, Commissioner GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

One Georgia Center, 600 West Peachtree Street, NW
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Telephone: (404) 631-1000

June 8, 2017

Thank you for attending the Public Information Open House for the proposed improvements to the interchange of
State Route SR 307 (SR 307)/Dean Forest Road at Interstate 16 (I-16), PI Number 0013727. Our goal is two-fold:
1) to provide you with information on the proposed project and 2) to provide an opportunity for you to give us
your comments on the proposed project. In this handout package, you will find a description of the project, as
well as a project location map.

As you enter the room, please take a look at the project display and the detour map. Georgia Department of
Transportation (Georgia DOT) representatives, wearing nametags, are available to discuss the project and answer
your questions. There will be no formal presentation.

We hope you will take the opportunity to tell Georgia DOT what you think. Listed below are several ways to
comment on the project. Your comments are important to us and, should you provide comments by one of the
methods noted below, we will respond to you in writing usually within 30 days of the close of the comment
period. All comments will become part of the projects official record.

While you are attending the open house, you can provide your comments today by filling out the comment card
provided with this handout and dropping it in the comment box, or you may choose to provide your verbal
comments to the court reporter who will transcribe your comments.

You can also provide your comments by Sunday, June 18, 2017 by using any of the following methods:

Online at www.dot.ga.gov/PS/Public/PublicOutreach.
From the menu, select the county in which the proposed project is located and click Go;
Then select SR 307/DEAN FOREST ROAD FM R.B. MILLER RD TO SR 21;
Lastly, click Comment and follow the instructions to leave your comments.
Scan QR code to the right with your smart phones QR reader.
Online at: http://tiny.cc/0013757comnt
Mail in your comment card to Mr. Eric Duff, Georgia Department of Transportation, 600
West Peachtree Street NW, 16th Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30308.
The project displays and plans will be available for review for ten days after this open house at the website noted
above. Hardcopies will also be available at the Chatham County Department of Engineering located at 124 Bull
Street, #430, Savannah, Georgia 31401. Following the ten-day public comment period, a copy of all comments
received will be available by request at the Atlanta address listed above.

Again, thank you for attending this open house. If you should have any questions or need additional information,
feel free to contact the project manager, Andrew Hoenig, at 404-631-1757 or the environmental analyst, Jordan
Allen of the Office of Environmental Services, at 404-631-1118.

Sincerely,

Eric Duff
State Environmental Administrator
Georgia Department of Transportation
Georgia Department of Transportation | Public Information Open House Handout
PI Number 00013727, Chatham County

Why We Are Here: The interchange currently serves several industrial and intermodal sites associated with the
Georgia Ports authority, as SR 307 serves as the primary entrance to the Garden City Terminal. The nature of the
adjacent land-use results in a significant amount of trucks using the interchange. Preliminary analysis indicates that
both exit ramp intersections are projected to operate at unacceptable levels of service with excessive delays if the
existing conventional diamond interchange configuration remains. While fatal crashes at both exit ramp
intersections were below statewide averages, total number of crashes and injury crashes, largely comprised of rear
end and angle crashes, are above statewide averages at the exit ramp intersections.

Project Description: The proposed project would provide operational improvements to the interchange of State
Route 307 (SR 307)/Dean Forest Road at Interstate 16 (I-16) in Chatham County, Georgia. The proposed
improvements would replace the existing bridge with two new structures, adjusting ramp lengths and adding an
additional exit lane to one ramp, constructing a diverging diamond interchange, replacing existing signals,
interchange lighting, and construction of pedestrian facilities including a 10-foot wide shared-use path and five-
foot wide sidewalk. The sidewalk and shared-use path would comply with Americans With Disabilities Act
(ADA) requirements.

Proposed structures would include dual 224-foot long bridges (two, 112-foot long spans per bridge). The
westbound bridge would be approximately 70 feet wide and include two 14-foot wide travel lanes, a 15-foot wide
travel lane, a 4-foot wide outside shoulder, 4-foot wide inside shoulder, and a 10-foot wide multi-use trail with a
1-foot buffer adjacent to bridge barrier and a 5-foot raised buffer adjacent to traffic. The eastbound bridge would
be approximately 54 feet wide and include two 14-foot wide travel lanes, a 15-foot wide travel lane, a 4-foot wide
outside shoulder, and a 4-foot wide inside shoulder.

Dedicated left and right turn lanes would be provided at the end of the eastbound and westbound exit ramps, and
right turn lanes would be added on SR 307/Dean Forest Road to the eastbound and westbound entrance ramps to
I-16. An additional travel lane would be added to the eastbound I-16 off ramp. Proposed lane widths for
interchange ramps would vary from 12 to 16 feet.

Existing right-of-way (ROW) varies from 300 to 570 feet on I-16 and 100 to 170 feet on SR 307. Proposed ROW
on I-16 would vary from 300 to 810 feet and be required primarily at the intersections of ramps with SR 307.
Proposed ROW on SR 307 would vary from 125 to 170 feet. Existing and proposed speed limits on SR 307
would be 45 miles per hour (mph).

The project would begin at the intersection of SR 307 and Southbridge Boulevard and end at the intersection of
SR 307 and Pine Meadows Drive north of the interchange, for an approximate project length of 1.2 miles.

Project Location Map: See Attached

Georgia Department of Transportation | Public Information Open House Handout
PI Number 00013727, Chatham County

Project Location Map

North

Project End

Construction End

Project Start
Construction Start

Source: Google Earth / Not To Scale

Georgia Department of Transportation | Public Information Open House Handout
PI Number 00013727, Chatham County

Comment Card
Please print responses.
Name
Address

Do you support the project and the detour as presented? (check your response)
For Against Conditional Uncommitted
General Comments

How did you hear about this Open House? (check) Newspaper Signs GDOT Website Radio
Word of Mouth Social Media Other
Was the location of the Open House convenient for you to attend? Yes No
If no, please suggest a general location that is more convenient to your community.

Was the time of the meeting convenient for you to attend? Yes No
If no, please suggest a time frame that is more convenient for you.

Were your questions answered by GDOT personnel? Yes No

Do you understand the project after attending this meeting? Yes No
Please share your suggestions on improving the ways GDOT conducts Open Houses:

Mail to:
Mr. Eric Duff, State Environmental Administrator
Georgia Department of Transportation
th
600 West Peachtree Street, NW 16 Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30308