Board authorizes grant and right‑of‑way applications for Brown Bridge, Fairview and buys culvert pipe

Public Works staff told the Newton County Board of Commissioners on March 17 that they had several near-term transportation funding actions requiring board authorization.

First, the board authorized the county chair to sign a project framework agreement with GDOT to accept a $2 million grant for the preliminary (plenary) engineering phase of Brown Bridge Road improvements.

Staff also requested board approval to submit an ARC (Atlanta Regional Commission) application seeking approximately $4.88 million for right‑of‑way acquisition on the Brown Bridge Road widening project (roughly 80 parcels to be acquired), and a separate ARC request for about $1.275 million to fund right‑of‑way purchases for the Fairview Road multi‑use trail. The board unanimously approved submittal and pursuit of those funds.

Public Works requested authority to acquire approximately $150,000 worth of corrugated/culvert pipe in various sizes to meet near-term project needs; commissioners approved that purchase.

Residents who spoke during public comment asked the board to consider traffic signals and safety improvements at local intersections in addition to sidewalk/widening projects. David Hopkins and Altha Caesar, both Brown Bridge residents, urged that funds earmarked for sidewalks be considered for traffic signals at dangerous intersections such as Brownbridge and Jack Neely/Nickeljack.

Board members noted that right‑of‑way acquisition is a multi‑year process and that the Brown Bridge widening is one in a series of infrastructure investments driven by continued county growth. The board authorized staff to proceed with the GDOT framework, ARC grant applications, and the culvert pipe purchase.