County officials broke ground June 21 for improvements to Floyd Road that will improve transportation and make the road more pedestrian friendly between Hicks Road and Veterans Memorial Highway.
The $4.5 million project has funding from the Georgia Department of Transportation and is expected to take about a year and a half to complete, opening in January 2014.
This project will widen the road from five narrow lanes to four standard lanes, two in each direction, and add a 20-foot raised median. The project will also add standard five-foot sidewalks on the east side of Floyd Road and a 10-foot multi-use trail along the west side which will connect south Cobb walkers, runners and cyclists to the Silver Comet Trailhead just north of Hicks Road. The trail will help develop the network of multi-use trails throughout the county, ease congestion, provide alternative transportation routes and support healthy and safe recreational opportunities for residents.
Former Gov. Roy Barnes, who grew up on a farm across the road herding cattle across the then-dirt road twice each day. “Floyd Road has become a major artery of this County.”
“The road is going to be much safer than it is now,” said District Four Commissioner Woody Thompson. He noted that Floyd Road project have been on the County’s agenda items at least 35 times over the past several years.
“I’m proud of this project.” he said, “I have to travel this road 5 to 6 times each day.”
“This will be a rock solid foundation for the new Mableton.” He advised drivers to “be patient. When we have a ribbon-cutting. You’ll be glad to be here.”
From the July 2012 issue of The Bright Side, Cobb County Georgia’s Newspaper covering Smyrna, Vinings, Mableton and Austell, GA.
