One of the short term, 4-5 year, plans of the Madison Athens-Clarke Oconee Regional Transportation Study (MACORTS) is to widen 441 in Oconee County. This section of the US route is one of the last remaining sections that is only two lanes. It goes through the tiny historic town of Bishop. The Department of Transportation wants to create a bypass to go around the town, to preserve the historic properties. This would complete 441 as a 4-lane in Northeast Georgia.

The Land-Use/Transportation Planning Committee of Oconee County met last night to discuss the project. Public Works Director Emil Beshara says that the bypass is necessary because simply widening this existing road would actually destroy the structure of the town.

Reporter Macey Lauren is out in Bishop, asking local business owners how this bypass could effect traffic flow and their business.