Collins’ request of U.S. Forest Service results in home-district road repairs

A formal request from U.S. Rep. Doug Collins
(R-GA) resulted in action by the U.S. Forest Service to repair a main service road in his district that runs through Towns and Rabun Counties and provides access to the Chattahoochee National Forest and the Appalachian Trail in northeast Georgia.

“Couldn’t be happier to hear reports that these improvements are already helping the residents of the Tate City Communities of Georgia and North Carolina, as well as others who love to camp, hike, fish and/or simply enjoy the Upper Tallulah River Valley,” Rep. Collins wrote on Facebook on Sept. 3.

Rep. Collins’ constituents complained earlier this spring about the damaged Forest Service Road #70 (FS-70), also known as Tallulah River Road, which they said had become dangerous and virtually impassable due to erosion, rock slides and fallen trees.

“I am deeply concerned that the roadway’s current condition is causing significant issues for area residents and visitors alike and that, without adequate repair and an appropriate maintenance routine, these problems will compound,” the congressman wrote the U.S. Forest Service about FS-70, which he said also represents the only route to several Tate City homes.

In writing to request Forest Service road repairs and maintenance, Rep. Collins also noted in his letter that FS-70 serves as “one of the more popular and most heavily utilized native surface roads in the entire Chattooga River Ranger District.”

On Sept. 1, local radio WDUN reported that Tate City residents said they’ve noticed recent road improvements confirmed by the Forest Service. The federal agency said it has completed a lot of work along FS-70, including cleaned ditches, fixed potholes, removed vegetation, and added surface gravel, according to WDUN.

The Forest Service also plans to reduce flooding damage caused by Line Branch Creek, which flows underneath FS-70 at the border of Towns and Rabun Counties, according to Rep. Collins’ office.

“Northeast Georgia’s natural beauty is unparalleled, and Tallulah River Road represents a path that people take to appreciate that scenery,” Rep. Collins said. “Thanks to the work of the Forest Service, this road is becoming safer and easier to pilot, and I’ll continue working to defend our natural resources and maintain the infrastructure that allows Georgians to enjoy them.”