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Politics & Government

Georgia DOT Announces New Partnership To Improve Litter Removal From State Highways

GDOT this week announced it's launching an innovative, sponsorship-based opportunity – at no cost to the agency and state taxpayers.

The Georgia Department of Transportation announced that it will “be the first state in the southeast to partner with local businesses and a national firm to remove litter from Georgia highways, according to a news release.

"We are very proud to be the first southeastern state to institute the Sponsor-A-Highway concept and I want to thank these great Georgia companies here today who are helping us begin this effort," said DOT Commissioner Keith Golden.

In the program, businesses such as Zoo Atlanta, Tanger Outlets Mall and Hennessy Lexus Atlanta can contract with Adopt A Highway Maintenance Corp., headquartered in Santa Ana, Calif., for monthly litter removal from designated sections of state roadways. Zoo Atlanta, for instance, sponsors litter removal by the company at two I-285 locations (near Riverside Parkway on the Inner Loop and near Cascade Road on the Outer Loop).

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"We already have outstanding participation statewide through our Adopt-A-Highway volunteer groups and the effort led by (State Transportation Board Member) Jay Shaw to utilize state prison inmates for litter pickup has made a huge difference in the appearance of our roads," said Golden. "This new 'Sponsor-A-Highway' program provides an opportunity for us to complement those efforts with the use of professional crews on a consistent schedule."

Each year, approximately $11 million is spent on various efforts to remove litter and maintain the roadways across the state. Additionally, more than 4,000 citizens volunteer with 173 active Adopt-A-Highway groups to maintain about 200 miles of roadway. Despite these efforts and the funds invested, litter control along the roads continues to be an issue.

Find out what's happening in Cummingwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Sponsor-A-Highway program offers a chance to increase the work in this area without any cost to the GDOT; a vital concern in these economic times and shrinking budgets for transportation programs.

Visit the GDOT Web site for more information.

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