Monroe Bypass future at stake

County, city want resources to build second route leg

The Monroe bypass — officially known as the State Route 83 Connector — is finally a reality.

It’s also only half the road city planners desire.

So officials with both the Walton County Board of Commissioners and the city of Monroe are taking action to try and get the other leg of the bypass built and complete the long-awaited road in its entirety.

Walton County Chairman David Thompson said the current bypass achieves its goal of funneling traffic out of downtown Monroe, but could be a problem for local schools off Highway 11.

“The first half of the bypass has been completed,” Thompson said. “The city of Monroe and the county feel dumping the traffic on Highway 11 next to Publix will be a problem, especially when school lets out.”

The current bypass takes traffic from the southern end of Highway 11 just outside of Monroe and takes it around the downtown area. Traffic seeking to return to Highway 11, however, currently must merge back in from the Highway 78 ramp just south of the Pavilion shopping center, between Publix and the Monroe Area High School and Monroe Elementary School area.

The Georgia Department of Transportation has a plan for the other leg of the bypass, which would extend the bypass route past Highway 78 and connect it back to Highway 11 near Bold Springs Road, well past the schools and shopping center, but the project is currently a low priority for the state.

Thompson wishes to change that and requested the Board of Commissioners approve funding to hire a lobbying firm to help entice the state General Assembly into funding the bypass project and making it a priority for the near future.

“Our local senators and representatives have said they will help,” Thompson said. “But we’d like to hire some lobbyists to help push this project through.”

Thompson advised it might not be a quick or cheap process, though.

“We’ve been to the state three times,” Thompson said. “Unless we come up with some skin in the game, they’re not interested.”

The board voted this month to approve a memorandum of understanding with the city of Monroe to partner on completing the bypass and hiring the lobbying firm of Holland and Knight to help promote the project in the state legislature.

Only Commissioner Lee Bradford voted against the measure, objecting to the cost and the need for outside lobbying help beyond the local elected delegation to the General Assembly.

Thompson, however, said it was a major step forward, saying the same firm helped the county secure grants to complete the water treatment plant down at Hard Labor Creek Reservoir.

“It needs to be done,” Thompson said.

The board also approved funding for a six-month agreement with Holland and Knight, paying the firm $8,500 a month to lobby on behalf of the project.

Bradford also voted against that measure.