Bids due in May for northern county road

Phase 2 of 276th/281st . . .

Documents were signed Monday by Hamilton County Commissioners for Phase 2 of the reconstruction of 276th/281st streets, a project that will get underway this summer connecting State Road 19 with U.S. 31. Phase 1 which involved improvements to 276th from just west of Gwinn Road and 31, is now all but completed.

The second phase involves building a gently curved new road from 276th to 281st.

The newly rebuilt 281st will meet State Road 19 where the existing 281st continues east toward State Road 37. County Highway Director Brad Davis says this connection will provide a good east-west roadway from 31 to 37 across Jackson and White River Townships.

The project will be bid in May with construction expected to start by July. The cost of about $5.5 million is being paid with $4 million in federal funds and the remainder in local funds.

The new road between 19 and 31 will have a much improved road surface with wider shoulders and improved intersections, thus providing motorists from the Atlanta and Arcadia areas easier access to 31. Beck’s Hybrids, whose operation is served by the new road, is participating in providing some of the needed right-of-way.