PEACH COUNTY, Ga. — More than $6 million is paving the way for road improvements in Peach County.
The Lily Creek Road project is getting millions of dollars in state funding to pave this dirt road.
April Hodges is the county administrator and clerk. She said they needed the help to get this project moving.
"The amount that was allocated for the project was not enough once we started the engineering phase so it's kind of put on hold because it's like got to find funding for it," Hodges said.
The Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank is sending $6.6 million toward paving Lily Creek. The county will receive the money as a $5.6 million loan and a $1 million grant.
The governor's office said this is the largest funding in GTIB's history.
She said Lily Creek Road needs an upgrade because it can be a shortcut to Peach County High School and a connector between Highway 49 and Highway 96.
"It will increase safety for students and also a lot of our citizens that travel those roads on a day to day basis," Hodges said.
The dirt road crosses over a Norfolk Southern track and a creek. Meredith Hagerman grew up on Lily Creek and believes a lot of work needs to be done.
"It needs to be taken care of whether it’s paved or not," Hagerman said.
She said when there’s a lot of rain, cars can get stuck or people make their own paths to avoid the water.
"It’ll flow out and wash out the road," Hagerman said. "You just have to find a way around it, so you don’t drive in the holes of water and people would come over into this grassy area to keep from avoiding it."
Hagerman said sometimes her trash doesn’t get picked up because of the road’s condition. She hopes updates come soon and stay consistent.
"Be upkept for it to be taken care of if they do pave it. Not pave it and forget it," Hagerman said.
Hagerman also said she would prefer to keep Lily Creek a dirt road to match the county feel.
Hodges said the county will keep their eye on the area because they might have other interests in the future.
"It’ll be a great opportunity in the future for possible infrastructure or economic development that does come to peach," Hodges said.
She said the money from the state will not only save them money but also save them time. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2027, but the deadline could have been pushed back without the grant.
The money for the Lily Creek Road updates is part of a $16.9 million fund. Other projects that received awards are in Watkinsville, Locust Grove, Sandy Springs and Atlanta.