Work Continues on Douglas Road Traffic Circle

A road project on Douglas Road at Southlake Drive will be completed by the first day of school, promises Alpharetta's director of Engineering and Public Works.

"It will be ready and operational by Aug. 15," said Pete Sewcwicz.

Since June 6, a portion of Douglas Road between Jones Bridge Road and McGinnis Ferry Road has been closed to allow for improvements to be made on the intersection of Douglas Road and Southlake Drive and for the replacement of the nearby bridge over Caney Creek.

This week pavement work was to begin. Georgia Power was installing light poles. Asphalt will be completed in the next two weeks and striping will follow.

Sewcwicz said the contractor and his department are focusing on the roundabout now. Materials and a crane were being brought to the site for the bridge replacement that was combined with this project. The bridge near this intersection was rated too low a weight for school buses, and was designated for replacement.

"Hopefully this week we'll start taking down the bridge," he said.

Don't look for a lot of greenery once the road reopens with its new roundabout and bridge. Landscaping won't take place until later this year in the fall or winter, the best times for this type of work.

Of course, everything depends on the weather, Sewcwicz said.

Once the project is completed the intersection will have been replaced with a traffic roundabout incorporating improvements for pedestrian traffic as well.