Sewer Expansion Project Moving Forward

Stephens County and the city of Toccoa have the go-ahead to move forward full speed ahead with the sewer expansion project on the Toccoa By-pass.

According to Stephens County Development Authority Executive Director Tim Martin, local officials got the go-ahead from the federal level to start with one phase of what is a multi-part project.

“I can tell you that the federal Economic Development Administration has given us permission to move forward with this project,” said Martin. “We will be putting an advertisement in the local newspaper, soliciting bids from contractors. After we receive those bids, of course we will review those, select the contractor that will build this project. This is a very significant word from the EDA and we are ready to move forward.”

The EDA awarded a $1.42 million grant to Toccoa and Stephens County for sewer expansion.

Martin said the grant is helping to fund this phase of the expansion of the city of Toccoa’s sewer system, which will cover an area from the intersection of the By-pass and Big A Road to the By-pass and Highway 106.

“This is the first half of the project,” said Martin. “This enhances our ability to serve industrial properties in the Hayes-Wilbanks area, Hayestone-Brady Business Park, the whole bit.”

This particular project is part of a larger planned sewer expansion project that Martin says is expected to cost about $4.5 million.

The other phase would build out sewer on Big A Road between Rose Lane and the Toccoa By-pass.

The project also includes water system improvements necessary to match the sewer system expansion and improvements.

Martin said they will open bids on the By-pass phase in about a month.

After that, the bids will be reviewed and one will be chosen.

He said the hope is to see work start during the summer months.