|
Subscribe!
770-267-8371
|
|
Thursday
September 2, 2010
|
|
|
|
Marketplace
|
|
Sections
|
|
Service Center
|
|
 |
|
Walnut Grove opens parkway
Published November 25, 2009
WALNUT GROVE — “Our dream doesn’t end here,” Councilman Wayne Dimsdale said.
With a vision of creating a downtown in tow, officials from Walnut Grove cut the ribbon on an important piece Monday as they ceremonially opened the Walnut Grove Parkway. Because of weather delays and the Thanksgiving holiday, the parkway is not expected to be open to the public for another week as a small portion of the road remained unfinished.
Mayor Don Cannon welcomed city, county and state officials to the event for the $1.4 million road, the largest single project in the city’s history.
“I would like to thank the citizens of Walnut Grove and Walton County,” Cannon said. “It was the approval of the (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) that made this possible. We are indebted to these citizens for making this possible.”
Both Cannon and Commissioner Vickie Gasaway, who represents the district, were quick to offer thanks to a number of important players, including the workers who fought with the weather to get the project near completion in time for the opening.
Work on the parkway began in March and the road completion was expected in August, but Mother Nature delayed the project both with rain and the discovery of rock when relocating water lines. But the project was completed within budget using funds allocated to the city from the current SPLOST and culminates an effort begun in 2004.
It was five years ago an effort to overhaul the downtown of Walnut Grove was born as city officials began to create a new vision for the downtown area, which at the epicenter is the intersection of highways 138 and 81. In 2005, the first concept was put together for the parkway, though dissimilar from the current road. Then the city purchased its current city hall, one of the oldest historic homes in the area, and transformed it into the crown jewel of the city — a testament to their commitment for the vision of the downtown.
“We acquired land, sought help from the (Georgia Department of Transportation), were approved but the funds dried up and went away,” Cannon told those in attendance. “But the Council felt we should still go ahead with the project.
“Now, we are here today — after considerable weather delays — ready to open this road to the public. To us, this is an excellent time.”
The goal of the road is to alleviate traffic at the intersection of the two highways and will align with the outer border of the northeast quadrant of the city’s new overlay district for the downtown area.
With the addition of the new high school to the town, as well as the parkway, city officials are now turning their attention at opening a library within the city limits. An official from the Uncle Remus Regional Library System was in attendance and Cannon said he would be showing off land they have set aside for the project, on land where City Hall is located.
Share |
Save |
Mail |
Print
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
