What's Next for the Ball Ground Bypass

Cherokee County has hired a firm to design a planned bypass around downtown Ball Ground, bringing the years-long project a step closer to fruition.

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted April 16 to approve a $1.1 million standard professional services agreement with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. for the design of the Ball Ground bypass project.

The bypass proposal, which aims to divert large trucks away from the downtown Ball Ground area, would be a new alignment roadway from the intersection of Howell Bridge Road and Ball Ground Highway/State Route 5 to the intersection of Flatbottom Road and Ball Ground Road/Highway 372.

The project length is about 1.5 miles.

According to the county, most of the bypass is planned to have an eight-foot “rural shoulder” with a 6.5-foot paved bike shoulder. A 21-foot “urban shoulder” consisting of a 2.5-foot curb and gutter, and a six-foot grass strip and a 10-foot shared use path is planned for the western end of the project in the developed area, near the proposed roundabouts.

Cherokee County secured a commitment from the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of Transportation during the 2022 ARC Project Solicitation to fund portions of the design and engineering for the Ball Ground Bypass Project, county documents show.

Federal funding includes $3,074,537 for the design and engineering of the project, with Cherokee County providing a 20% local match of $768,634, according to county documents.

GDOT approved the bypass project in November 2021. Cherokee County entered into a project framework agreement with GDOT for the design portion. GDOT will oversee and reimburse Cherokee County for the federal funds portion of the project.

Ball Ground City Manager Eric Wilmarth said in November that the bypass would divert large trucks from driving through the downtown area, specifically poultry trucks. The route will allow trucks to travel from Ball Ground Road to Exit 27 on 575 without the need to traverse through the downtown area.

The project is also proposed to include a roundabout at the intersection of Howell Bridge Road and Ball Ground Highway.