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Officials push for new bridge over Ga. 400
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Since the large annexation in Roswell of some 15,000 people in 2000, Ga. 400 has been like a river separating the two sides of the city except for the ever-congested Holcomb Bridge Road. Now the Roswell City Council has given the go-ahead to build a new bridge over Ga. 400.
The project, called the Big Creek Bridge Road, will be built in phases. All is still in early design stages, but it was one the more dramatic projects first put forth in the city's 2005 comprehensive transportation plan.
This bridge, about a $20 million project for phase 1, is planned to be a two-lane structure linking Old Alabama and Old Holcomb Bridge roads just north of Holcomb Bridge. No access to Ga. 400 is anticipated.
The consultants for the project, Gresham Smith & Partners, presented the bridge as a multimodal path, with space for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians, said Smith associate Jay Bocksich.
"We see this as a way to unite the east and west sides of the city. It will open up the west side for east side residents to shop. We also see the bridge as a signature landmark for the city," Bocksich said.
The City Council unanimously endorsed the plan.
"This the biggest transportation project in Roswell since they built Ga. 400," Mayor Jere Wood proclaimed.
Councilman Jerry Orlans said the city has been interested in redeveloping the northwest quadrant of the Holcomb-Ga. 400 intersection. This bridge provides a way to make that happen, he said.
Councilman Rich Dippolito said he liked Smith Gresham's conclusions. Councilman David Tolleson agreed.
"I think we are headed in the right direction," Tolleson said.
Councilwoman Lori Henry said she particularly liked the inter-connectivity the road provides in addition to bringing both sides of the city closer together.
The council also liked research that showed the bridge would draw little, if any, through-traffic from Holcomb Bridge Road while still creating that connectivity. Thus it would primarily be a route for residents.
"That means we're building it right," said Bocksich.
The research also shows this bridge does more to lessen Holcomb Bridge's congestion than widening the road to eight lanes. That was another plus in the eyes of council.
Bocksich said their conclusions also pointed to ending the project on the west side at Warsaw Road and not going to Old Roswell Road.
"It already provides good north-south dispersion at Warsaw. We think the benefits of pushing it through to Old Roswell Road don't justify the costs," he said.
Certainly in a phased operation such as this, that portion is easily deferred to a different time and set of circumstances, he added.
No firm route has been drawn up as yet. It will require the acquisition of quite a bit of right of way and may come at the expense of homes and apartments, especially on the west side.
Also there is the matter of funding. Certain elements of the project make it attractive to the federal government, mostly the multimodal aspect. It will conform the Atlanta Regional Commission's transportation model.
The feds, ARC and GDOT will be funding sources to be pursued.
For now, Gresham Smith & Partners has been given its marching orders to proceed with a design and more detailed cost analysis. The consultants are also charged with finding funding partners.
"The big keys will be the alignment of this road, the cost and the effect it will have on redevelopment in the corridor," said Wood. "It is not just transportation, but vitalization of the whole area."
Once the costs are finalized, then work will begin to find the sources of funding, Wood said. Big Creek Bridge Road project
Phase I: Connect Old Alabama Road with Old Holcomb Bridge Road by a two-lane bridge, no access to Ga. 400.
Phase II: Continue west to Warsaw Road, providing traffic with a way to fan out north and south.
Phase III: Take the road farther west to Grimes Bridge/Old Roswell Road.
Phase IV: Connect to Commerce Parkway, which effectively brings the road to Ga. 9. The option is also there to take the Old Alabama connection and turn north to Mansell Road.
Tags: Roswell, Roswell City Council
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