Wednesday, January 10, 2001
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Wednesday, January 10, 2001 |
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Sumner Road will be paved despite residents' objections By JOHN
MUNFORD Sumner Road, one of Peachtree City's last unpaved thoroughfares, will still be blacktopped despite a last-ditch effort from nearby residents to prevent it. At last week's city council meeting, council voted to go ahead with a redesigned version of the project, which had been halted by the city once it was discovered the path would cause some large trees to be cut down. City engineer Troy Besseche said the design changes will help save some trees. That means reducing some clear space on either side of the pavement but keeping a curb and gutter system that could help keep vehicles from leaving the roadway. It is very important to explore several options to reduce the speed of the roadway, Besseche said, including keeping the speed limit at 20 mph. Some Sumner Road residents appeared at the council meeting questioning why the road should be paved in the first place. They were worried paving the road would increase traffic and noise in addition to causing environmental problems. But the residents were told the road should be paved to enhance the response of emergency vehicles and because dirt roads are expensive to maintain. Also, it would allow access to Ga. Highway 54 at a traffic light for vehicles coming from the area north of Sumner Road. Councilman Robert Brooks explained that council had already approved the road paving, but the matter came back to council "unplanned" for the design changes. Maintaining Sumner Road is difficult, especially when potholes form several days after rainstorms, Brooks said. The motion to proceed with the project as it was redesigned was unanimous. The Georgia Department of Transportation is still expected to help fund the project, Besseche said.
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