The Cobb County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a $5 million Mars Hill Road project, along with 14 other transportation items.

Commissioner Helen Goreham said it has taken time to get the Mars Hill Road project going because the county wanted to change the roadway from a state route to a county route in order to reduce project costs and time.

Cobb Spokesman Robert Quigley said that the county expects the Georgia Department of Transportation to approve the transfer by the end of this month. The transfer would mean that the county would then be financially responsible for the road, which will allow for the improvements.

The board approved a contract with C.W. Matthews Contracting Company Inc. to begin the project upon approval from GDOT. There are five intersection improvements planned for the project, where Mars Hill Road meets Burnt Hickory, Due West, Giles/Hill, County Line/Old Stilesboro and Nichols roads.

The project is expected to improve safety and movement at the intersections, and will improve the entrances at Durham Middle and Frey Elementary schools with increased turn lane lengths and pedestrian improvements.

"Twenty-thousand vehicles come through this area every day, so this area needs to be improved and maintained," Cobb DOT Director David Montanye said.

Funding for the $5 million project will come from the 2005 Transportation Improvements Program Fund and the Water & Sewerage Improvement Revenue Bonds. The project is expected to be completed in April 2011.

The board also approved work authorization for other TIP projects beginning January 2010 through December 2011. Montanye said that the TIP program is set up to have its budget voted on by the board every two years, and that this two-year period's construction costs are expected to be lower than declining construction costs in the market. The projects will be funded through the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, not exceeding $10.25 million.

The board also approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the city of Acworth for the use of 2005 SPLOST proceeds for a project at SR 92/Lake Acworth Drive. The project was put on hold due to a reduction in tax and other revenue, but Quigley said it is projected to start in 2011.

Meanwhile, a project in Smyrna on South Cobb Drive was put on a long-range plan with GDOT, which basically means it will not happen, Chairman Sam Olens said.

"We just want to be honest with the public," Olens said.

The board also:

* Approved 5-0 the purchase of 20.11 acres at 4905 Austell-Powder Springs Road from the city of Austell for $250,000. Bob Ash, director of the county's Public Services Agency, said that the land will be used for a relocation of the flood-damaged Austell Senior Center from Legion Park, and enable park amenities such as tennis courts, picnic areas and playgrounds. Funding for the purchase will come from the county's settlement of the Norfolk Southern Railroad suit from April 2001.

* Offered a resolution 5-0 to allow Shiloh United Methodist Church in Kennesaw to use its existing driveway and traffic light at the Jiles Road/Cherokee Street intersection throughout construction of the Jiles Road widening, as long as the church does not sell its property and remains operating as a church.

* Authorized funding to Cobb Housing, Inc. to resume in the near future as the CHI has submitted a repayment that was needed in order for the group to continue to receive funding through the Home Investment Partnerships Act (HOME) program.

* Presented a proclamation to Brooks Tinsley, manager of the Al Bishop Softball Complex and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, for their recent induction into the Georgia United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Slow-Pitch Softball Hall of Fame.