The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has ap-proved Dougherty County’s application for the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) Safety Action Plan (SAP). The Department will commit $56,500 toward the project, with a local match of 30 percent.

Initially proposed to the Dougherty County Board of Commissioners at the April 1 board meet-ing, the LMIG program was developed in cooperation with Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG), Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), and others. The grant is part of GDOT’s commitment to helping local governments achieve much needed improvements to the state’s roadway network.

The LMIG program allows local governments greater flexibility and quicker project delivery, while allowing GDOT to effectively administer the program with a reduced workforce and new funding match requirements. Locally, the Dougherty County Public Works department will en-sure projects are completed. The SAP funds will be utilized for signing and marking improve-ments on the list of Dougherty County roads, to create safer driving for citizens. A GDOT stand-ard high-build or thermoplastic paint will be used for striping.

A total of over 22 miles of Dougherty County roads are included in the project: Flowing Well Road (from Gillionville to Eight Mile Road); Tallahassee Road (from Gillionville to the Terrell County Line); Barnaby Drive (from Spelman Drive to MLK, Jr. Drive); Hedgeapple Lane (from Twinflower Road to the dead end); Sweetbrier Road (from MLK, Jr. Drive to the dead end); Twinflower Road (from MLK, Jr. Drive to Hedgeapple Lane); Dunbar Lane (from N. Jefferson Street to the dead end); Sportsman Club (from the Lee County Line to Gable Road); Hamilton Drive (from Leary Road to Lonesome Road); Lily Pond Road (from Newton Road to Old Preto-ria Road); Lonesome Road (from Newton Road to Vanderbilt Drive); Tarva Road (from Leary Road to the Baker County Line); Ashwood Street (from Dower Avenue to U.S. Highway 82); N. County Line Road (from U.S. Highway 82 to Harris Road); and Oakwood Street (Hill Road to Dower Avenue).

“This grant will provide Dougherty County with the resources to add striping and reflectors to these roads, improving evening driving safety, for our citizens,” said Larry Cook, Director of Public Works for Dougherty County.