Road improvements planned

Some of Columbia County's roads have been approved for a facelift.

It's the result of a recently-passed Local Assistance Road Program by the Georgia Department of Transportation, which will provide for 21 roads throughout the county to be resurfaced.

"It's kind of a maintenance program, if you will, for the locals," said Rhonda Davis, a state aid administrator for the DOT. "It's great news I think to a lot of local governments."

The program awards resurfacing money yearly based on available state funds and a list of roads submitted by the county.

"Every year, we ask for a bunch of roads," said Kevin Lear, Columbia County's construction maintenance director. "Sometimes we get more, sometime we get less. This year, it looks like they came up with additional funds from the state and were able to give us five more roads."

On the list, Harlem's Ballard Drive will be improved for .394 miles. In Grovetown, Fiskand Howell Street will be resurfaced for .395 miles.

Lear said the following roads also will receive new blacktop throughout the county: Fairfax Place, Gay Drive, Buckboard Court, Buckboard Drive, Oakdale Drive, Eagletrace Lane, Fernglen Way, Fair Oaks Court, Shady Grove Drive, Wellington Drive, Westmont Drive, Silver Lake Drive, Sir Lancelot Court, Bennett Road, Cottonwood Drive, Eubank Drive, Janes Road, South Old Belair Road.

Combined, there will be 11.689 miles of road resurfacing.