Ribbon Cutting Marks Completion of Darren Drive Culvert Replacement
FAYETTE COUNTY, Ga. — Fayette County officials and residents celebrated the completion of the Darren Drive Culvert Replacement with a ribbon cutting on Oct. 24, highlighting a major infrastructure upgrade designed to improve public safety and storm resilience along Shoal Creek.
Originally constructed in 1972, the former culvert was replaced to increase hydraulic capacity and extend the life of the crossing. The new installation is 65 feet in length and features six reinforced concrete box (RCB) culverts—three 9’ x 9’ boxes and three 9’ x 5’ boxes, engineered to meet a 100‑year storm event.
The project was 100% SPLOST-funded, approved by Fayette County voters in the 2017 SPLOST, with programmed funding of $1.6 million. The work was managed by Project Manager Richard Brooks.
“The value add to the community and county you will see in the long‑term life of the project,” said Brooks. “The upside: we came under budget on this project and we were on schedule. I couldn’t thank the community enough for their support. We had to build a bypass road to support the project, and we tested it with vehicles from our fire department to make sure it was built correctly. The residents were really happy about that. This was a true value added to the community,” Brooks said.
Beyond added capacity, the culvert was designed to accommodate the hydrologic demands of Shoal Creek while protecting local waters, habitats, and cultural resources, aligning with Fayette County’s environmental stewardship goals.
Project Highlights:
- Location: Darren Drive (Shoal Creek crossing)
- Culvert Length: 65 feet
- Configuration: Six RCB culverts (three 9’ x 9’, three 9’ x 5’)
- Resilience: 100‑year storm design capacity
- Funding: $1.6 million, 100% SPLOST (2017 voter-approved)
- Original Structure: Built in 1972
- Project Manager: Richard Brooks
About SPLOST
SPLOST stands for Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. It is a voter-approved, one-percent sales tax collected for a limited period of time to fund specific capital improvement projects. These projects may include items such as public safety facilities, roads, parks, or other infrastructure improvements. By law, SPLOST funds can only be used for the projects approved by voters.