Suwanee city council on Tuesday opted to move forward with three sidewalk projects for the city, and simultaneously continued its effort to connect the local multi-use trail system — not only within Suwanee, but all of western Gwinnett County.
Council approved a contract for sidewalks that will run the length of Smithtown Road, a roughly 1.8 mile road that runs from Satellite Boulevard to Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, for $1,295,000. Suwanee Elementary School is located on Smithtown Road.
"It's a sidewalk that the community has requested for a number of years. It's been on our priority list," said Marty Allen, city manager.
Council also approved a sidewalk project for Stonecypher Road, which connects Main Street and Suwanee Dam Road, in the Old Town Suwanee area for $47,145.
"This is another project that's been on our transportation list for a number of years. What we do is develop an alternative transportation plan that ranks and prioritizes sidewalk projects, and as we finish them, we move on to the next one," said Allen.
Allen said the most recent check marks to be put on that list include a sidewalk project along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard near McGinnis Ferry Road, and one near North Gwinnett High School on Suwanee Dam Road.
Council also gave approval to build sidewalks between George Pierce Park and the Ruby Forest neighborhood for $17,270.
While Suwanee continues to connect more pedestrian and bike paths around the city, Allen said it's part of a larger effort to eventually connect all the trails in western Gwinnett County — from the Mall of Georgia in Buford, south to Duluth and Johns Creek.
"Gwinnett County and the cities along the western corridor are actively working on what's called the 'Western Gwinnett Bikeway' that would connect all of the cities," said Allen.
Gwinnett County is currently working on a connection between Suwanee and Duluth, Allen said; the county is also working on filling in the gaps between the Ivy Creek Greenway in Buford and George Pierce Park, which has access to the Suwanee Creek Greenway.
Long-term plans call for a connection to run from the Suwanee Creek Greenway all the way to Bogan Park, county officials said. The new stretch is going to be approximately 10 miles long.
There is no firm timetable for the completion of these efforts, but Allen said it is "definitely an ambitious plan" that is expected to come to fruition in due time.
