FLOWERY BRANCH - Flowery Branch City Council Wednesday morning heard the positive and short-term negative side of rewidening Spout Springs Road in front of the Publix Shopping Center.
Spout Springs Road is very busy from I-985 up to Hog Mountain Road, and city planner James Riker outlined the rewidening that he says will generate more traffic to serve the giant Halverson Shopping Center and Publix shopping center.
"We think it benefits the residents and the businesses by improving traffic circulation in and out of the area," Riker said.
Publix business owners wanted assurance that the $2.2-million rewidening project would not cut off access to their stores during construction and they got it.
Shopping center hair solon owner Lee Garner said that's what happened last time when Hall County raised the road level.
"It should bring more people into the area, but we've got to survive through it again," Garner said, recalling that shopping center businesses lost business because access was cut during the previous project.
Street Smarts design consultant Andy Anderson said the contractor is required to keep access open to the shopping center during construction.
Flowery Branch Mayor Diane Hirling said widening Spout Springs Road is great, but it needs to go all the way to Braselton.
"Unfortunately it's only a short distance from I-985 to Hog Mountain Road that's going to be widened," Hirling said. "It's going to be a plus for the businesses along both sides of Spout Springs but we're going to have a traffic jam once you get to Hog Mountain."
"What we need is some support behind us to get it widened further and we need to continue talking to our officials."
Mayor Hirling said the project would create limited access to Holland Dam Road but would generate more shopping traffic for all area businesses.
Halverson shopping center developers are paying for the project, due for completion in October.
Tuesday
June 10th, 2025
12:05AM
