Athens-Clarke County and Oconee County Dealing With Old Waste Pit Under New Orkin Drive

Engineers have discovered an old waste pit deep beneath the highway leading to the new Caterpillar plant requiring Athens-Clarke County and Oconee County to rebuild the roadway in coming months.

The reconstruction will require closing of some lanes of the four-lane roadway for about two weeks.

Athens-Clarke County Engineer Administrator Jerry Oberholtzer said his office discovered settling and breaks in the eastbound sections of Orkin Drive and buckled sidewalks only a month or so ago.

Oconee County assumed responsibility for its part of Dozer Drive on Sept. 3, and Athens-Clarke accepted Orkin Drive and that part of Dozer Drive under its jurisdiction on Aug. 6.

The two governments built the roadways as part of the deal to lure Caterpillar to the area. They agreed to split costs of the project evenly.

For more on the story, go to Oconee County Observations.