Wednesday, February 14, 2024–5:02 p.m.

-David Crowder, WRGA News-

The Rome Public Works Committee has given its approval to the closing of the upper portion of Medical Drive off of Three Rivers Drive as part of the new Rome Middle School project.

The approval would be contingent on the submission of an official signed petition and other items.

According to Rome Engineering Services Director Aaron Carroll, the school system will donate right-of-way to create a new cul-de-sac or terminus on Medical Drive. Carroll added that shortening medical Drive is not expected to impede current traffic flow.

“There is only the one medical facility there at the lower right corner that is open now,” he said. “None of the rest of it is developed or anything. It’s just raw land and Rome City Schools has purchased all those remaining lots except the one where the doctor’s office is.”

Rome City Commissioner Jamie Doss, who chairs the committee, asked if Medical Drive was going to be an entrance to the new school, adding it would be nice to know that grand plan. According to Carroll, there are theoretically three different ways you can enter the campus.

“You can come down Three Rivers Drive and just keep going straight past Dr. Snodgrass’ office and that would be a driveway into the school there,” Carroll said. “Or you can turn and go down Medical Drive, and there would be two driveways out of the school property connecting into the new cul-de-sac. I don’t know if they have any definite plans for that upper northwestern quadrant yet. There is nothing on the plans that I have reviewed.”

Carroll added the school system has an application with the Georgia Department of Transportation for a right-in and right-out onto the bypass.

According to Rome City Manager Sammy Rich, Rome City School Superintendent Eric Holland will be attending a Rome City Commission planning retreat on February 23.

“I assume he will bring site plans and tell us what is going on,” Rich said.

Late last year, the city commission voted 5-4 to approve agreements with the Rome City School System and the Rome Building Authority regarding the issuance of no more than $120 million in bonds to fund the construction of the new middle school.