Fayette reverts to tunnel plan for Starr’s Mill crossing

Fayette County is back to planning a tunnel under Redwine Road for golf cart access to the Starr’s Mill school complex. Previous discussions between the county and Peachtree City debated whether a tunnel or a bridge was preferable between Robinson Road and Panther Path. But Public Works Director Phil Mallon told the Board of Commissioners on Oct. 14 that Peachtree City does not want its greenbelt used for the bridge, so the board voted 5-0 to resume plans for a tunnel just south of Robinson Road. The tunnel would replace the current at-grade crossing near Foreston Place and no longer require a county crossing guard there during school hours.

Commissioners Lee Hearn and Eric Maxwell reiterated their preference for a bridge, and expressed concern about future residents of the new Mill Farms subdivision illegally crossing Redwine rather than traveling up to a mile away to access the tunnel. The tunnel project will be funded with SPLOST revenue; the project has a balance of $722,810, but the county said additional funding might be required depending on the final construction estimate.