Completed Paving, Storm Water Repairs, Sidewalks And Pedestrian Improvements, And New Signal Communication Network

The City of Dunwoody is currently engaged in several beneficial and exciting infrastructure projects in different phases of active development and construction.

Dunwoody, Ga. September 11, 2014 – The City of Dunwoody is currently engaged in several beneficial and exciting infrastructure projects in different phases of active development and construction.

2014 Citywide Paving Plans:

The City has completed its summer paving projects for 2014! More than six lane miles of roadway were paved, patched, and or sealed. Final pavement striping activities occur over the next few weeks at select locations throughout the city.

Pavement striping will take place along Perimeter Center Place, following the completion of the public input process for the potential pedestrian refuge island on Perimeter Center Place. The city is recommending the conversion of the middle segment of Perimeter Center Place (across from the Terraces office buildings and adjacent to the Target shopping center) into one lane in each direction to allow for the installation of a pedestrian refuge island that will provide a safer crossing between the Terraces and the shopping center.

This particular solution is being proposed because research and best practices have shown drivers do not sufficiently yield to standard striped crosswalks when they are installed on multi-lane roads with relatively infrequent pedestrian traffic. Crosswalks placed on these roads tend to improve the perception of safety without greatly improving the actual safety.

The city is still collecting public input. Simply visit www.Connectdunwoody.com to learn more about this project and to share your thoughts and ideas.

Dunwoody Park will soon be getting a facelift. The city will begin paving the Dunwoody Senior Baseball parking lot at Dunwoody Park. This parking lot is in need of a complete resurfacing and will take approximately one week for completion. The entrance to the Dunwoody Park baseball fields, from Roberts Drive, will experience temporary closures during hours when the baseball fields are not in use.

The city included an additional 10 lane miles of paving in the 2014 budget including long sections of Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Mount Vernon Road. This paving is being coordinated with a DeKalb County water main replacement project which is scheduled to start later this year. Adding this to the paving planned for next year, will make 2015 the city’s biggest year for paving yet.

Storm Water Repairs

The City of Dunwoody is continuing the repair and replacement of our aging storm water infrastructure. The majority of these structures are close to 40 years old and in varied stages of deterioration.

The city recently completed a large storm water pipe replacement project on Vermack Road and is currently finishing a project located on Delverton Drive, east of North Peachtree Road and west of Delverton Court. The project involves the replacement of a large 60” corrugated metal pipe that runs underneath Delverton Drive. The new concrete storm water structures have been installed and final paving, landscaping and curbing is expected to be completed in the next two weeks.

This week the Storm Water Department will begin work to rehabilitate an 8-foot diameter storm water pipe that runs for 387-feet under Perimeter Center Parkway. The project will take several weeks to complete but will require minimal land disturbance and lane closures.

Dunwoody Village Main Street Project Begins Sidewalk Construction

Construction crews continue to make progress on the Dunwoody Village Main Street project. The contractor has begun final grading of the landscape areas on the south side of the parkway and has begun work on the north side sidewalks. The construction of the sidewalk will take several weeks with anticipated completion at the end of September, weather permitting. Final paving will begin after completion of the sidewalks.

The shops, restaurants, and businesses located in the Village Parkway area will remain accessible throughout construction.

The city worked closely with the businesses in Dunwoody Village and continues to conduct proactive outreach and communication on the project. Main Street project information materials, including a store front project poster and point of sale flyers to display adjacent to registers, are available free of charge for Village businesses by contacting Bob Mullen at 678-382-6881 or bob.mullen@dunwoodyga.gov .

For additional information regarding the Main Street project please contact Michael Smith, Public Works Director, at 678-382-6850 or email michael.smith@dunwoodyga.gov .

Pedestrian & Bicycle Improvements

The city’s maintenance contractor has begun pedestrian improvements at the intersection of Winters Chapel and Peeler Road. These improvements include new sidewalk, pedestrian crosswalks, new push-button pedestrian signals, and ADA curb ramps. These improvements will provide needed safety upgrades and make the intersection fully accessible for those with disabilities.

New sidewalks are also coming to Roberts Drive. Construction will begin on the west side of Roberts Drive, stretching from the northern city limit to Aurora Court and the sidewalk, and is expected to be completed before the end of the year.

The city is also focusing on important improvements to the Mt. Vernon corridor. Thousands of residents live along this corridor, which serves as a primary route for commuter travel to and from work, daily excursions, and neighborhood and resident travel. As this particular roadway is such an important thoroughfare, various projects have been planned to address safety and operational concerns at several key intersections. In the City’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan, the intersections identified in the highest priority category are Nandina Lane/Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Mount Vernon Way, Vermack Road, Mount Vernon Place, and Tilly Mill Road.

In addition to recommendations for intersection improvement projects, the Comprehensive Transportation Plan recognizes the importance of the sense of community by initiating a “Complete Streets Policy.” The concept of Complete Streets centers on the idea that streets are not just for cars and trucks. Whether used for health benefits or a means to avoid traffic congestion, sidewalks and other alternative accommodations provide tremendous value to residents and businesses in Dunwoody.

New sidewalk segments will be designed to close gaps between existing sidewalk segments or to connect them with proposed sidewalks at intersection improvement projects, making this corridor safer, healthier, and more enjoyable for all. These projects are timed in conjunction with DeKalb County’s water main replacement project. The city is finalizing the design work for the new sidewalk on the south side of Mount Vernon Road with construction expected in 2015.

Questions on these and other pedestrian project may be sent to Mindy Sanders at mindy.sanders@dunwoodyga.gov.

Funding from GDOT Aids Development of Traffic Signal Communications Network

To help address traffic congestion and air quality, the City of Dunwoody is emphasizing the importance of timing -- traffic signal timing to be precise. The city has secured $1,000,000 in the Atlanta metro region’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to further develop the city’s traffic signal communications network.

The signal communications network project agreement, which was approved by Dunwoody City Council on August 25, 2014, enables the city to secure one million dollars in project funding from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to develop the traffic signal communications network.

The project will extend fiber optic cable for signal communications from the existing network in the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCIDs) to signals in Dunwoody Village and other major corridors in the city. The fiber optic connectivity allows the city to establish communication between signals and a central traffic management center to be located at Dunwoody City Hall. Signal connectivity improves the coordination of signal timing and allows for remote monitoring and troubleshooting of signal operations and traffic flow.

“This project is another step in helping to mitigate traffic congestion and transportation related emissions within the city and across the perimeter area,” said Michael Smith, Public Works Director for the City of Dunwoody. “The funding follows on the success of the Perimeter Traffic Operations Program (PTOP) which has helped establish better signal timing and coordination at peak commute times within critical corridors across multiple jurisdictions.”

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