The Georgia Department of Transportation has begun reaching out to a number of property owners along Hamilton Road/US 27 in LaGrange. 

The department is negotiating the acquisition of right-of-way that will be necessary for a road-widening project. Engineers plan to expand nearly 1.5 miles of the current two-lane road into four lanes, from the Auburn Street intersection to the Whitesville Street/Morgan Street interchange. They have been working with the City of LaGrange on the project that would complete the last portion of the widening of the heavily-traveled GA 1/US 27 corridor from I-85 south of LaGrange to near Waugh Road north of the city.

Georgia DOT engineers have identified more than 200 parcels along Hamilton Road for right-of-way negotiation. The department started making first offers to some affected property owners on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, and is following state regulations for purchasing right-of-way.

“We’re in the initial steps of this acquisition process,” said Adam Smith, preconstruction engineer for the Georgia DOT’s District 3. “We expect it to take about two years, with additional offers going out to property owners as appraisals are completed, reviewed and released.” 

“I’m very excited that the funding is in now in place and the right of way acquisition has started for the Hamilton Road project,” said Jim Thornton, mayor of LaGrange. 

“This project has been a long time coming. I appreciate all the staff at the City of LaGrange and the Georgia DOT who have pushed this project along. This widening project will improve safety and traffic flow for one of the primary gateways into LaGrange.”

Engineers are also developing final designs for the project and working with local utilities. 

After the right-of-way acquisition is complete and design work has been approved, the construction project will be put up for bid. 

They anticipate the construction will take two to three years to complete.