SR 20 Widening Gets State Funding

From the Georgia Department of Transportation

Cumming, GA -- Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell McMurry today announced that, as a result of funding from the state’s Transportation Funding Act of 2015, the SR 20 Improvement project in Cherokee and Forsyth counties is now funded and will advance.

“We heard the community’s outcry for this crucial project and the desire for it to remain on the existing roadway,” said Commissioner McMurry. “This project is a perfect example of the positive impact that using state funds has over federal funding for projects such as this. We are thankful to the Governor and the Legislature for their support of reduced dependency on federal funding to address Georgia’s transportation needs.”

The Department began the current effort to find ways to improve mobility and improve safety along the 24-mile corridor between Canton and Cumming in Cherokee and Forsyth counties back in 2012. Federal regulations required consideration of three alternatives in the environmental process which caused great concern with residents and citizens. GDOT will now solely focus on widening the existing roadway.

“This project demonstrates what can be achieved with adequate funding for much needed transportation projects,” said State Transportation Board member Jeff Lewis. “Improvements to this corridor are long overdue and I am thankful for the cohesive effort that led to this.”

As a result of state funding, public input and evaluation of the current alternatives, the Department will break the corridor into six segments in an effort to advance the much needed relief to the corridor. Design of these segments will be concurrent and get underway in January 2016. The segments are:

· I-575 to Scott Road

· Scott Road to Union Hill Road

· Union Hill Road to E. Cherokee Drive

· E. Cherokee Drive to SR 369

· SR 369 to SR 371

· SR 371 to the existing 4-lane in Cumming

“I am grateful for the hard work and perseverance of GDOT in ensuring that the community’s concerns were heard and that this important project will be one of the first to show the positive impact of the Transportation Funding Act,” said state Senator Brandon Beach.

State Representative Mandi Ballinger noted that SR 20 is a critical corridor for Cherokee County and she has been fully supportive of finding a way to improve it. She is glad to see the positive impact of state funding in Cherokee County.

“SR 20 is an important corridor not only for people trying to safely get to and from work, but also for businesses moving their goods. We are indeed grateful that this project can be delivered with state funding instead of federal,” said state Senator Michael Williams

Georgia DOT will continue to work diligently to ensure that possible environmental impacts are avoided, minimized, and/or mitigated and to minimize property impacts. As the project moves ahead, the communities in and around the corridor will be kept informed of its progress.