ROCKDALE COUNTY PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

August 6, 2024

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. – Progress is rolling towards Rockdale, with three major Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) roadway construction projects set to begin this year. The projects are State Route 162 Salem Road Widening Project, The Courtesy Parkway Extension, and Interstate -20 at State Route 138/State Route 20 Interchange Reconstruction and Widening Project. These projects are all scheduled to begin as early as October and can span over the next three to four years.

Details about each project are listed below:

State Route (SR) 162/Salem Road Widening

This project will widen the existing two-lane roadway to a four-lane roadway (two lanes in each direction) from south of Browns Bridge Road in Newton County to Flat Shoals Road in Rockdale County. The project would also widen the existing four-lane roadway to six lanes from Flat Shoals Road to Interstate 20.

Plans also include a 16-foot raised concrete median to run along the length of the project, a 12-foot shoulder that includes a 5-foot sidewalk on the east side and a 20-foot shoulder, including a 10-foot shared use path, on the west side.

Courtesy Parkway Extension

This project will create a new connecting road between Old Covington Highway to Flat Shoals Road. The road will bridge over I-20 and relieve traffic on McDonough Highway.

The planned road will comprise three travel lanes in an undivided roadway, and the bridge over I-20 would be wide enough to accommodate five lanes in preparation for future growth. The plan includes curbs, gutters, and sidewalks, as well as intersection improvements with new turning lanes along the path and at the endpoints.

The project length totals 1.5 miles of all-new roadway.

Interstate -20 at State Route 138/State Route 20 Interchange Reconstruction and Widening Project

This project will reconfigure and widen the existing SR 138/SR 20 (Walnut Grove Road/McDonough Highway) at the I-20 diamond interchange in Rockdale County with a single point urban interchange (SPUI). A portion of the project consists of reconstructing the existing six-lane bridge (four through lanes, two left turn lanes) for SR 138/SR 20 over I-20 with a new two-span eight-lane bridge that spans both I-20 and the new westbound access ramp from Dogwood Drive. The new bridge will consist of four through lanes with exclusive dual-left turn lanes in each direction.  A single-lane roundabout is to be implemented at the intersection of Dogwood Drive and the western entrance to Conyers Plaza. The goal of this project is to alleviate future traffic congestion and to reduce accidents and injuries at the SR 138/SR 20 and I-10 interchange.

Rockdale County is urging citizens to begin planning for alternative routes and adjusting their travel schedules in preparation for the upcoming road work. Further updates will be shared as more information develops. The public is asked to continue monitoring social media @RockdaleGov and the Rockdale County website, rockdalecountyga.gov, for updates.

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ROCKDALE COUNTY PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

July 23, 2024

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. – Rockdale County Fire Rescue Chief Marian McDaniel, along with Fire Rescue’s compliance and accreditation manager Dr. Arkla Allen, announced at the July 23 Board of Commissioners meeting that Rockdale County’s Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating is now a 2/2X.

In February 2024, the Insurance Service Office conducted an on-site analysis of the county’s fire suppression program using a fire suppression rating scale. The ISO uses a Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating system that ranks on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the best rating a county can receive for fire suppression. Data was collected from E-911, Rockdale Water Resources, and Fire Rescue.

“This is a significant achievement for Rockdale County! This rating could potentially reduce insurance premiums for commercial and residential property owners,” said Dr. Allen. “The ISO assesses 40,000 communities nationwide, and Rockdale County joins only 2,604 communities nationwide and 66 across Georgia that have obtained a class 2 ISO rating.”

“Prior to 2018, Rockdale County was a 4/9X. In 2018, we improved to a 3/3X. Now, in 2024, we have achieved a 2/2X. What are we saying? Rockdale County Fire Rescue excels beyond our standards and delivers service beyond your expectations,” added Chief McDaniel.

Rockdale County Fire Rescue continues to strive for a better rating in the future by developing committees and teams for after-action review of ISO findings, aiming to reach a 1 rating by 2029.

For more information on the ISO, visit www.ISOmitigation.com.

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ROCKDALE COUNTY PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

June 13^th, 2024

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. – Rockdale County is pleased to announce its official selection as a sub-awardee under the University of Georgia’s USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Urban and Innovative Agriculture Community-Based Organization Fund. As a result, Rockdale County has been awarded $145,000 to advance the projects and goals outlined in our project proposal, such as establishing a mediation and therapy garden for citizens and a demonstration garden for children. The garden will primarily feature herbs, providing a tranquil space for community members to engage in therapeutic activities and learn about the benefits of urban agriculture.

Commissioner Sherri L. Washington has been instrumental in securing this funding for Rockdale County. Her dedication and leadership have been pivotal in achieving this accomplishment.

“I am elated that Rockdale County is now a recipient of a USDA/UGA grant that will allow us to not only help alleviate food insecurities but also teach our community how to become self-sufficient,” said Commissioner Sherri L. Washington. “One of the most exciting elements of this community garden is that it will incorporate a meditation garden that will allow us to grow herbs and create spaces for yoga, meditation, and sound meditation. I look forward to working with our inaugural volunteer organizations, the NewRock Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction and Top Teens of America, to move this initiative forward.”

“The NewRock Chapter is excited to partner with Commissioner Sherri Washington and Rockdale County Administration to ensure that residents, especially those living in food deserts, have access to healthy food options,” said Charnita V. West, president of the NewRock Chapter of the Top Ladies of Distinction (TLOD), Inc. and Top Teens of America. “Ladies and Teens of the NewRock Chapter are committed to building stronger communities through our five programmatic thrusts, including community partnerships and beautification. Collaborating on this worthwhile initiative will allow us to answer our national call for ‘Continuity in Action,’ where we plan and implement service projects that are consistent and long-lasting.”

This funding is part of a larger $43.1 million investment by the USDA FSA through the American Rescue Plan Act for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. This initiative aims to strengthen the food supply chain and transform the food system into a fairer, more competitive, and more resilient one. The investment will also support food-insecure communities and aid producers in regions where FSA has historically had limited presence.

Rockdale County is excited to use these funds to enhance our local agricultural initiatives, contribute to the resilience of our food system, and meaningfully support our community. We look forward to collaborating with the University of Georgia and the USDA FSA to achieve these goals.

For more information, please contact: Andre Thomas at Andre.Thomas@Rockdalecountyga.gov or Commissioner Washington at Sherri.Washington@rockdalecountyga.gov

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ROCKDALE COUNTY PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

June 5^th, 2024

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. – Rockdale County Fire-Rescue (RCFR) will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Fire Station #10, located on the north side of Rockdale County. The event will occur on Monday, June 10, at 11 a.m. at 3100 Highway 138, NE, Conyers, Ga. The entire Rockdale County community is encouraged to join in the celebration as we mark the completion of fire coverage across all county sections.

The ribbon-cutting event will feature a fun and welcoming atmosphere with refreshments, a bouncy house for children, and blood pressure checks for those in need. Fire Station #10 will be staffed with new graduates and veteran firefighters, reflecting the county’s growth in this critical area. Residents of the north side of Rockdale County can expect faster response times, state-of-the-art equipment, and the quality customer service that RCFR is known for.

Chief Marian McDaniel of RCFR said, “The community has been in need of this fire station, and we’re glad it is finally here so we can do the work to assist and protect this community. We will bring the same attitude to Fire Station #10 as all our stations. Our motto is ‘Excellence beyond our standards and service beyond your expectations,’ we’ll have an even better opportunity to live up to that with the opening of Fire Station #10.”

Join us at the celebration on June 10! For more information, please contact Rockdale County Fire-Rescue at 770-278-8401.

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