SR 85 Widening

FAST FACTS

GDOT Project #: 721290
Type: Reconstruction/Rehabilitation
Project Length: 4.7 miles
Affected Counties: Clayton, Fayette
Condemning Authority: GDOT
Estimated Affected Parcels: 136
Estimated Cost: $64,163,970
Right-of-Way Funds: $6,200,000

Description

State Route 85 is the primary travel conduit between Fayetteville and Riverdale. In areas where the road is four lanes, GDOT plans to widen the road to six travel lanes, add sidewalk, curb, and gutter improvements, and reconstruct the aging northbound and southbound bridges over Camp Creek.

The project will span more than four and a half miles, and although GDOT plans to maintain traffic flow throughout, it will be taking property from adjacent parcels to do the work. The business and residential property owners along the path could lose significant property, property value, or both.

Business and Homeowner Concerns

This busy thoroughfare is line with businesses and residential properties. All of those properties may be losing land at the very least. Residential owners may find traffic uncomfortably close to their doors. Commercial property owners and businesses could see disruption as entrances are relocated, traffic reflowed, parking is lost, and structures rendered nonconforming.

These property owners should be wary of more than just land takings. GDOT may also take from property rights owners via temporary and permanent easements and could damage properties via inverse condemnation.

What to Do if Your Property Is Affected

There’s still time exercise your rights if you have not accepted GDOT’s initial offer. The government has allocated more than $6 million to compensate property owners, but it will try to buy your property for as little as possible. In many cases, we find that the initial offer is often significantly lower than the value of what’s taken. You are not required to accept the government’s initial offer!

You have the right to fair compensation for property the government takes. That could be significantly more than the first offer. Compensation for lost business income or expenses like relocation are almost never included. We can help you fight for them!

As long as you do not accept the initial offer, you can fight for more and we can help. Call 1-888-391-1339 or contact us as soon as possible for a complimentary case evaluation.

We do not take an attorney’s fee unless we increase the government’s offer, and our fee only comes from the increased amount – our no fee guarantee. Further, we front the costs of fighting your case and if we’re unable to increase the government’s offer to you, you don’t pay them. We do. That is how confident we are that we can assist you.

News and Publications

City of Riverdale: Comprehensive Plan 2005 – 2025

Project Maps

Estimated Project Schedule

Right of Way Acquisition – Now

Start Construction – 2023

End Construction – TBD

Affected Parcels

An estimated 136 parcels of property will be affected by the SR 85 widening project between Fayette and Riverdale. Property owners may lose significant amounts of land, representing significant financial value and usability. For homeowners and commercial property owners in the path of the project, it is critical to understand that the government’s initial offer is just that – initial. We do not recommend you accept the initial offer.

Get a free case
evaluation today.

There are only a handful of attorneys in GA who practice eminent domain exclusively. And even fewer with DOT experience. That’s why it’s always worth it to get a free case evaluation.

Here’s how it works:

1) Tell us about your situation.

2) We research your property as needed, using DOT maps, our own technology, and experience to see the exact effects.

3) We let you know what we think a fair offer would be. This evaluation is free, and there’s no
pressure or obligation to hire us after.

But please don’t wait to act. Waiting can hurt your case, and the cost is the same: free.

1-888-391-1339

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