Public Projects Construction Update – December 2021

Roadway Repairs & Resurfacing (LMIG)

The paving of all streets on the 2020-2021 LMIG project list is complete. In Frontier Forest, there are a few valve and manhole covers that need to be adjusted and the striping needs to be completed to close out this project. These streets were completed in this year’s contract:

[columns] [column size=”1/3″]1. Princeton Oaks Drive
2. White Oak Drive
3. Megan Court
4. Hunters Oak Trail
5. Frontier Way
6. Frontier Trail
7. Bankside Court
8. Davis Street
9. Amberside Court[/column] [column size=”1/3″]10. Mountain Ridge Way
11. Amberside Lane
12. Spring Willow Drive
13. Riverside Walk Drive
14. Grand Loop Road
15. River Ridge Lane
16. Eagles Rest Trail
17. Appling Road
18. Summer Breeze Lane[/column] [column size=”1/3″]19. Frontier Drive
20. Long Needle Court
21. Forest Green Way
22. Laurel Green Lane
23. Sagamore Cove
24. Canyon Drive
25. Deer Crossing Drive[/column] [/columns]

Sugar Hill Greenway

TriScapes Construction (TSI) currently has their focus on the timber piles that will allow for one of the longer bridges and boardwalk sections to span Level Creek during December.  After some delay with materials and equipment, work commenced on driving the piles to the required bearing capacity at this location.  Nearing the 75% point on the piles, the contractor will continue in this portion of the work in January, weather permitting, followed by the boardwalk and bridge installation.  Paving is set to get underway later in February or early March, depending on temperatures as this section is composed of asphalt concrete pavement.  The portion of the project to east from Level Creek Road to PIB is at or very near finished subgrade elevation and gravel is being trucked into place as the next steps will involve asphalt paving in this area, again weather permitting.  Many of the project’s natural segments follow the old Georgia DOT right-of-way for the outer perimeter project and take visitors through many of the most scenic places in the city. Bridge and boardwalk construction is some of the longer divisions of work to be completed and is taking some time to work through.  A pedestrian crossing signal has been installed on Level Creek Road near the back entrance to Gwinnett Church where the trail will cross (just south/west of Markim Forest subdivision). The signal, at the entrance to the city’s newest park (Goldmine Park-440 Level Creek Road) will be activated once the trail is closer to completion and the county approves the installation.

The contract for signage on the trail has been let and design is well underway. The Friends of the Greenway are assisting with selections and are very excited to be involved with the project. It will consist of pylon signs, maps, mileage markers and location information signs. Some solar lighting will be incorporated at strategic intersections.

While the segment on Level Creek Road and through EE Robinson Park (North) has been paved, some sections are still blocked off and within the contractor’s work zone.  The public is encouraged to stay off the trails in these areas until the barriers are removed and it is safe to use.  The trailhead at Bethany UMC on Whitehead has been constructed and is awaiting progress on the trail segments closer to the area prior to final completion.

The Sugar Hill greenway trail is a transformative investment in greenspace, alternative transportation and recreation opportunity.  The benefits of the trail have been described in terms of economics by way of improved property values, health effects by way of improved activity levels, environmental protections by highlighting the natural environment encircling the city, and traffic demand reductions by decreasing reliance on automobile trips (to recreation, restaurant and shopping destinations).  Reference Sugar Hill’s greenway trail master plan website for more information about this and future phases.  www.sugarhillgreenway.com

Project Highlights

• The trail was envisioned in 2014, with the first trail segment completed in 2018 along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.
• The greenway is comprised of 11.5- linear miles of greenspace and will be connected by nearly 16 miles of walking and biking trail sewing together key destinations/nodes in the city.
• The trail will be 10 to 12 feet in width and be paved with concrete along roadways and asphalt in natural areas.
• The first phase connects downtown with (3) three parks and (2) trail head parking lots clockwise from downtown to Gwinnett Church and westward to Whitehead Road.
• The entire trail is expected to cost about $17 – $20 million by the time future phases are constructed.
• Most of the first phase is constructed with SPLOST (voluntary sales tax dollars) funds.
• Phase 1 (5 miles) anticipated completion date – Q1, 2022.
  

The TSI contract will encompass about 4 and a half miles of trail construction, beginning at the intersection of Level Creek Road and Church Street and extending both along roadways and through natural areas to Whitehead Road, temporarily ending at a trailhead parking lot at the Bethany UMC Church located at 144 Whitehead Road near the new bridge.                                        

Gold Mine Park. TriScapes (TSI) was awarded the contract and is making progress on the small (2.4AC with 7 acres of greenspace), but important park. The parking lot and the driveway are nearly to finished subgrade, but the site is still being used for laydown and staging for northwest segments of the greenway construction.  Installation of stormwater control structures interior to the site is complete.  The structures for water supply and sewer are on site and will be installed soon.  The restroom building is in production and should be delivered soon. Paving should begin once the bridge on the Greenway is in place and the heavy equipment is removed.  The park serves as a trailhead on the city’s greenway and offers a chance for guests to learn more about the city’s gold mining history.  The park will have some 50 parking spaces, a restroom, bicycle racks, and information about the cultural and historical significance of the area.

City Hall Parking Deck Resurfacing.  The city selected Engineered Restorations to remove and reinstall the parking deck coating at city hall.  A similar product (with 10 year warranty) was chosen to address concerns with water infiltration into the slab.  A 73-wet mil thick coating was applied after removal and prep work finished up, providing a long-lasting driving surface for the area.  In addition, the contractor replaced the expansion plate between city hall and the deck.  Work is complete on the parking resurfacing.