Lake Spivey Parkway Approved by Henry and Clayton Counties

The Clayton County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to support legislation which, if approved by the Georgia General Assembly, would rename a portion of Ga. Highway 138 to Lake Spivey Parkway. On Monday, the Henry County government passed a similar resolution, supporting the renaming of a portion of Ga. 138 that lies in that county, to Lake Spivey Parkway as well. The Clayton County portion of the road passes through the district of Commissioner Michael Edmondson. He believes the name change will create positive branding for the highway, which has recently been widened from two lanes to four lanes. "The county recently adopted some new overlay standards to positively steer the development of the area," he said. "It's nothing more than an attempt to positively highlight those good things in the area. Highway 138 is already a commercial corridor by definition. My concern is that we get the best kind of commercial development along Highway 138." Edmondson said he has been in touch with the family of Charles "Ed" Holcomb, a former state representative and county school board member for whom a portion of Ga. 138 is named. Edmondson said "it is very important to his memory that we continue to honor him," and that Holcomb's signs would continue to adorn the highway. Henry County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Elizabeth "B.J." Mathis said creating Lake Spivey Parkway along Ga. 138 would help "create a sense of identity" for the residents there. "Henry and Clayton counties have split a lot of that community in half," she said. "What we're attempting to do is work with the residents in that area to create a sense of community. Planning is always better than just letting things happen." "It's beneficial to both counties because if you look at it from our standpoint, Highway 138 is the gateway into our county," Mathis said. "If they raise the bar on their side, it's going to raise the bar on our side."