Local & State Headlines

Highway 133 project generates support

• Dougherty County Commissioners OK funding for road improvements at the proposed site of an East Albany Wal-Mart.

ALBANY — Anxious to be part of a “unified regional effort” to complete the four-laning of Georgia Highway 133 from Albany to Valdosta, the Dougherty County Commission unanimously approved a resolution Monday asking state and national Department of Transportation officials to look closely at funding the project.

“Everyone in this room is aware that DOT is undergoing massive changes,” Commission Chair Jeff Sinyard said. “They’ve got over 9,000 projects on their books, a deficit of at least $1 billion and they need two or three more billion. This project is critical to Southwest Georgia’s future, and we need to show DOT a unified regional effort to get this thing done.”

“We’ve got the support of D.C. — Rep. (Sanford) Bishop and Senators (Saxby) Chambliss and (Johnny) Isakson are on board — but we’ve got to get the support of DOT.”

Sinyard told commissioners during their business session that 133 is important to the region on a number of levels.

“That highway is critical to us as an economic corridor; it’s vital for traffic flow, and it is an important military route,” he said. “The four-laning project will reduce congestion, increase safety, and reduce travel time.”

“The state’s No. 1 priority right now is decreasing congestion and smog around Atlanta, so we’ve got to make a concerted effort to let our folks know how important it is to get this road done.”

Commissioners also voted to authorize $304,344.88 in funding for road improvements at Georgia 300 and Clark Avenue requested by the developer preparing the land for a Wal-Mart Supercenter that is set to be built next year, and OK’d a list of roads to submit to DOT for resurfacing this fiscal year.

The board voted to approve $10,500 in funding for its portion of equipment for the multijurisdictional Albany-Dougherty SWAT team, agreed to provide an estimated $15,000 for a Board of Tax Assessors-requested market survey, and appointed two members to the Department of Family and Children Services Board to fill unexpired terms.

Commissioners approved Hugh Phillips to complete the term of Mac Wilcox that will run through June 30, 2009, and by a 4-3 vote selected Willa Thompson-Williams to fill the term of William H. Gregory II.