CLEVELAND — Local and State officials cut the ribbon Wednesday officially opening the phase two portion of the Appalachian Parkway around Cleveland.
State Sen. Steve Gooch, Rep. Terry Rogers, and White County Commission Chairman Travis Turner welcomed citizens to the newly-constructed corridor.
Turner told the crowd that phase two is the key to moving the traffic.
“Phase two is the connector, phase two is what makes phase one jive.” Turner said. “The Parkway is the connector that will get more people to Northeast Georgia's largest tourist destination, Helen, and it is the connector to White County's two largest employers, Freudenberg NOK and Babyland General Hospital.”
Georgia Department of Transportation District Engineer Brent Cook said the project has been more than two decades in the making.
"Planning for this project began more than 20 years ago,” Cook told those gathered.
Several of those on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony reflected on the time it has taken to get a roadway to this point, including White County Sheriff Neal Walden.
“In 1979, I came to work for White County in law enforcement and I've been hearing bypass since 1979 and I often wondered if I would live long enough to see it,” Walden said. “Well, I'm going to drive on the second phase of it today, so I think it will be a benefit to the county and the motoring public."
Phase one of the Parkway, which begins at Hope Drive south of Cleveland, was opened to traffic in November 2015. Phase two was well underway by then, and the latest section which includes six bridges, is just under three miles.
The second phase was completed three months ahead of schedule and, according to Gooch, under budget as well.
Phase one of the parkway, according to GDOT, represented a $50-million investment. The second phase cost $25 million.
There is still a phase three, that will complete the project and connect the road with Ga.. 75 just north of Cleveland. No one at the Wednesday ribbon-cutting ceremony would say when funding would be available to complete that phase.
Following the official ribbon cutting, Walden escorted the first official traffic on the parkway.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/7/563382/officials-celebrate-opening-of-appalachian-parkway-phase-2