County, City to Extend Western Gwinnett Bikeway

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners agreed Tuesday (May 1) to share costs with the city of Duluth to extend the Western Gwinnett Bikeway 2.6 miles along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard from its current end at Pleasant Hill Road to the Rogers Bridge Trail at Rogers Bridge Road.

The county and city governments will each contribute up to $325,000 toward extending the 10-foot-wide multi-purpose asphalt trail and increasing recreational opportunities for citizens. Most of the $1.3-million construction cost will come from federal funds.

The Duluth City Council approved entering into an intergovernmental agreement with the county to split the remaining cost of the project 50/50 at its April 9 meeting.

The bikeway will provide pedestrian and bicycle access to several neighborhoods, parks and shopping areas and eventually connect the cities of Norcross, Berkeley Lake and Duluth.

Since Duluth had already budgeted $500,000 in 2009 SPLOST funds for its portion of the trail, the city council agreed in work session April 23 to reallocate up to $70,000 in those funds to complete a sidewalk on the east side of Howell Mill Drive in the city. The council is expected to vote on approving the reallocation at its May 14 meeting.

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