Extend Noise Barrier on Forest Cove Quadrant of 204 Extension

From the time the first home was built in 1985 to its steady state in spring of 2014, Forest Cove was a private community, just off of 204 Extension, hidden by acres of trees. The trees, some of them towering over 60 feet tall, provided privacy along Mariners Way, the main street into our neighborhood, from vehicles traveling along 204 Extension. They also provided shade and aesthetic scenery for homes facing 204 Extension, as well as for community members traveling along Mariners Way. They also helped diminish noise from 204 Extension, including engine noise from motorcycles, passenger vehicles, and commercial trucks and noise from sirens of emergency vehicles.

Early summer of 2014, all of the trees in the Forest Cove quadrant of 204 Extension were clear cut to accommodate a Georgia Department of Transportation project that included a bridge over King George Boulevard and supporting on and off ramps. GDOT plans show elevations on the bridge and along on and off ramps to range from 20 to 50 feet.

GDOT did provide for a noise barrier extending from the cul-de-sac at the end of Mariners Way to 250 feet past the last home on the right side of Mariners Way (138 Mariners) as you are exiting our neighborhood. This leaves approximately 400 feet of direct exposure to the new roadways between our naturalized berm and the GDOT noise barrier. The difference in elevation between our neighborhood and new roadways along those 400 feet will leave our neighborhood exposed to lights from vehicle headlamps and noise from vehicles. We are requesting GDOT amend their noise barrier plans to include extending the existing barrier 400 additional feet from Station 63 + 50.00 to station 59 + 50.00.

Also, as with most communities, Forest Cove has a large sign marking the entrance into our community. The sign serves as both a welcome to members of the community and a landmark to visitors looking for our neighborhood. GDOT has informed Forest Cove the sign will be removed to accommodate roadways needed for the 204 Extension Project. Forest Cove is requesting GDOT remove our sign from its current location and relocate it to a mutually agreed location that will serve both community members and visitors to our neighborhood.