What’s really going on with the ‘Waycross Bypass’?
Editor, The Times: This is a question that I, and thousands of Pierce County residents should be asking the county commission. If I had the opportunity, I would also ask the commissioners a few more questions as well, such as: Why are Pierce County residents being asked to sacrifice their land to the state through eminent domain laws, all for the sake of “Alleviating congestion concerns” in Waycross? Why does Waycross even need a full circle looping “bypass” on all sides of the county, and why is that Pierce County's problem? What benefit does this proposed bypass bring to Pierce County? What is really going on with this bypass, and why did our commissioners already approve to move forward with the next step in this project?
The plans for the Waycross Bypass were shot down both 20 years, and then again 10 years ago after a large public outcry and 63% disapproval. In a recent county commission meeting, commissioners voted to support a resolution to approve the bypass, moving the process to the next stage. Georgia DOT will not even discuss the plans until all three commissions agree to the basic concept of a bypass. At the time of this writing, those meeting minutes are not available online, so it’s not possible to review what (if any) discussion was had on this topic, and what commissioners voted to approve the resolution.
To those of us, including myself, whose family land will be cut in half by the current projected route of this project, there are several red flag concerns about how the commissioners have handled this process. Not a single resident who will be directly impacted and forced to give up their land has been contacted. The meeting minutes from the November commission meeting with discussion and the voting record for this resolution are unavailable. Thankfully, The Blackshear Times provided an overview of this topic, or no one outside attendees of the meeting would know about it. All residents should be concerned that the commissioners voted on the measure in November, and will vote again with the Commissioners of Ware and Brantley County (which must all be in agreement) before the Pierce County Commission’s next public meeting in December. After recently talking with County Manager Raphel Maddox, the Pierce County Commission does plan to hold public hearings on the bypass…once they approve it at the joint commission meeting in December.
If that isn’t enough, the last time I checked, the commute through Waycross is not plagued with hours of stand-still traffic… except when all of the rail crossings are blocked by trains. This “bypass” does nothing to alleviate this issue. Diverting thousands of vehicles, mostly semitrucks, through Pierce County residential areas that outline this projected path is senseless, and does absolutely nothing to improve Pierce County in any way. What possible reason could the commissioners have to approve this project? When asked directly if Pierce County’s agreement to vote in favor of this project would lead to an agreement for additional services, such as water, from Waycross or Ware County, Mr. Maddox denied the notion. When asked again, just for clarity, as this had been the rumor I heard for why Pierce would agree to solve a Ware County problem, he again denied any such agreement existed.
The proposed route of this bypass will cut straight through hundreds of Pierce County residents’ property. Not farmland, timber farms or state-owned land (not that any of these are a much better option), but right through entire established neighborhoods. One of my longtime friends, who just completed a brand-new home, in the back of a brand-new subdivision, will have a new 4-lane highway 100 yards from his front door. He has worked hard his entire life, and bought this piece of property for the seclusion and serenity it provided, and now that is in jeopardy. Most of the other lots of land in this community have been sold at a premium price, and if this project moves forward, those landowners will be stuck paying a premium price for a property that now has no value, because no one would ever purchase it from them with a highway cut through the center of the subdivision.
This bypass will not bring in new business developments or connect new areas of the county for development. The only business that will be impacted in a positive way is the newly proposed Friendly Express Truck Stop at the intersection of Highway 84 at Lairseys Crossing. All other areas of the projected bypass are residential areas where nothing else could be developed… just loud semi-trucks and constant traffic pouring through the small communities of Pierce County, bringing no value and no revenue.
While I’m just one of hundreds of residents projected to be directly impacted by this, it has my full attention as the highway cuts through land my family has held for half a century. It’s land that 4 current generations of my family have built on, and plan to use for future generations as well. This is deeply personal and even if the proposed path changes off my family land, it will simply mean another family in Pierce County has to deal with the chaos that will ensue if the project receives full approval. We must join together to stop this from happening.
A meeting of all three county commissions has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, December 1, at the 2nd floor conference room of the Ware County Administration Building. I am asking all residents of Pierce County to call (912) 4492022 to talk with your county commissioner, the county manager and Commission Chairman Neal Bennett and tell them to stop this idiotic bypass in its tracks. Make sure to contact your Commissioners BEFORE this vote, and attend the meeting if at all possible. Then, attend the Pierce County Commissioners Meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 2, and ask them what is really going on with the Waycross Bypass.
Blake Edwards Blackshear
