DALTON, Ga. — The Georgia Department of Transportation has recently approved $189,268 in Quick Response Program funding to improve the safety and efficiency of the intersection of State Route 3/U.S. 41 with Underwood Road in Whitfield County.

Work on this high priority project, awarded to Northwest Paving Co. Inc. of Calhoun, is about to begin. It is expected to be completed in three weeks.

The contractor will add left turn lanes on Underwood Road at its approach to Ga. 3.

“Upon completion, this Quick Response project will help improve the flow of traffic in the area, make it safer, and help the public get where they need to go in Whitfield County,” said Grant Waldrop, district engineer at the GDOT office in Cartersville.

Work on this project will not require lane closures on the bypass. Motorists on Underwood Road should be aware of the advanced warning signs and watch out for contractor personnel and vehicles in this work zone.

The Quick Response Program supports low-cost operational projects on the state highway system such as restriping, intersection improvements, turn lane additions and extensions. These projects can be implemented in a short period of time and typically cost less than $200,000. They generally stay within the state right-of-way and require little if any utility relocation.

Quick Response projects are identified by GDOT staff and managed through the Office of Local Grants.