The Effingham County Board of Commissioners will be breaking ground on the Old Augusta Phase I project Tuesday at 2 p.m.  

Old Augusta Phase I will run from Highway 21 to Chimney Road and is estimated to be completed by spring 2009. It is estimated to cost approximately $4.986 million to construct.  

This road is expected to serve as an alternate route to the congestion experienced on Highway 21 and open a new avenue for economic development.

When fully completed Old Augusta Road will provide a two-lane road with four lane width of right of way with direct connect from Highway 21 to Highway 275.

Old Augusta Road will be constructed in three phases, with the first going from Highway 21 to Chimney Road, approximately 2.75 miles in length. It will consist of two 12-foot lanes with right-of-way for four lanes.

The county is responsible for planning and engineering, right-of-way acquisition, design and utilities movement on Phase I. The state Department of Transportation is assisting the county with construction costs.

Phase II will take Old Augusta Road from Chimney Road to Fort Howard Road just past Georgia-Pacific, a length of more than 4 miles. Final survey and alignment work has been completed.  The time frame for right of way acquisition, planned drawings and approval with state agencies is 12-24 months.

Cost estimates for Phase II have not been completed. Preliminary estimates put construction cost at $7.5 million The county is paying for alignment and survey work on Phase II.

Phase III will run from Fort Howard to Highway 275, with intersection and signage improvements only. Plans and details for Phase III have not begun.