The Brantley County Commission received updates on road projects around the county.
Georgia District 11 Director for the American Public Works Association (APWA) Georgia Chapter Ben Pierce spoke of the bid opening for Knox Road, which was held Friday, January 9 at 2 p.m. Invitation for Bids (IFB) were issued late in 2025 and were due January 9, 2026. The awarding of the bid will be placed on the Thursday, February 5 agenda meeting.
“This is intended to go to the VOC (Vehicle Operating Costs for traffic studies) in February,” said Pierce. “The project scope will be leveling, overlay, patching and restriping of the full 4.3 miles from US 82 to Knox Cemetery Road.”
The project will begin in February or March of 2026, weather permitting, according to Pierce.
He also discussed the Safety Action Program grant of $461,000 with a 10 percent match of in-kind service Brantley County received in 2025 with commissioners. County officials were encouraged to use the funding to improve its roads and signage.
Sign submissions are now being reviewed. Peak Pavement Markings, LLC of Valdosta is under contract to perform the road updates starting February 9 at a cost of $458,175. A pre-conference meeting was held December 17, 2025.
The project scope includes restriping, Raised Pavement Markers (RPM’s) and sign replacement. Four other roads on the list include Brownstown Road, Baker Creek Road and both Raybon Road East and Raybon Road West.
“This is a grant not everyone gets,” stated Pierce. The Safety Action Program grant primarily refers to the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program.
It provides federal funding to local, regional, and Tribal entities to develop and implement Safety Action Plans aimed at reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries, with available funds for both planning/demonstration and implementation projects for all users.
These grants, established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), support data-driven strategies based on the Safe System Approach to create safer roads for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and transit users.
Pierce said CSX is reviewing what he hopes will be the last round of comments surrounding the Georgia Department of Transportation’s (GDOT) replacement of Humpback Bridge.
According to the University of Georgia’s Laboratory of Archaeology, the current structure was built in 1970 to replace the original wooden structure erected between 1918 and 1940 crossing of the Little Satilla River.
Commissioners expressed concern for the steel structure, which has begun to deteriorate. Pierce discussed budgetary options and available grants, including one from Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (maximum amount typically between 1-2 million dollars).
Forty foot of right-of-way has been staked from Trudie Road to the bridge. GDOT does not have any action for Brantley County at this time.
The GDOT’s Letting of Bids (opening) is scheduled for March.
The Britt Still Road project has been stalled by the December 16, 2025 re-submittion of the CSX package with a 30-day review period.
“Our right-of-way agent is in the process of completing the offer packages for County review,” explained Pierce.
He informed the commissioners the Phase I Drainage asbuilts have been completed and are being incorporated into the construction plans.
“Phase I Drainage asbuilts” typically refers to the certified drawings and supporting documentation showing the actual, constructed condition of the initial phase of a project’s storm drainage system. These are required by local governments and regulatory agencies to ensure the system was built according to the approved design and local ordinances.
Pierce said once all comments have been addressed with CSX, plans will e submitted to GDOT TIA (Transportation Impact Analysis) review and Coast EPD (Environmental Protection Division) LDA (Land Disturbing Activity) Review.
