Catoosa County manager Mike Helton announced Tuesday that the county plans to stripe 114 road miles beginning Dec. 14.

Last month the county announced its plans to stripe 27 miles, but Helton said it was found that more roads needed striping and that relocating personnel would allow for the project.

Helton said the project will be done in-house to save county funds. He said the project will cost around $68,000 if done with county employees and county-purchased equipment.

Helton said the estimated cost for striping with a private contractor would be $154,237.

The project will be paid for with special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) funds.

He said many roads in Catoosa have not received striping in five to six years. When roads were striped, Helton said, the process was done through the state’s Local Assistance Road Program (LARP).

Damaged roads have also received striping as part of the repair process.

Helton said the striping should last around five years and that although the project will save the county money, it is “definitely going to be a challenge.”

“We’re going to have some people doing the striping that have never done it before,” Helton said.

The striping includes heavily traveled roads such as Three Notch, Boynton Drive and Poplar Springs.

Commissioner Ken Marks asked about how the project will affect citizens during rush hour.

Helton said those doing the striping will begin on the less-traveled roads during low-travel times. He said this would allow training time for those who are learning to use the striping equipment.

“We’re going to keep those who are inexperienced with the machinery out of traffic until they are well versed,” Helton said.