Stephens Co. Works With DOT on Signage, Striping of Roads

A number of Stephens County roads will be seeing new signage and striping thanks to state money.

The Georgia Department of Transportation has awarded Stephens County an off-system safety project.

Stephens County Administrator Phyllis Ayers said the state is completely in charge of the project.

“That is 100 percent paid by the DOT, no matching funds and that covers 77.86 miles of road, of signage and striping,” said Ayers.

Ayers said that the state is expected to start that work later this year, perhaps in the summer.

Meanwhile, the county is seeking even more money for signage and striping.

Last month, county commissioners approved a motion to apply for additional LMIG road money for safety work.

LMIG stands for Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant.

Ayers said this is additional funding that has stemmed from the Transportation bill passed by the state last year.

She said the money, if the county receives it, must be used on safety projects, which can include signage and striping.

That, Ayers said, would cover another 74.70 miles of roads with signage and striping.

The DOT would pay about $184,000 and the county would match $55,000 or so.

Ayers went on to say that if the county can obtain that additional grant and combine it with what the state is already planning to do, that would make a significant impact on county roads.

“You will have 52 percent of your paved roads covered,” said Ayers.

There is no word on when the county may hear on the additional grant funding.