Forsyth County and Georgia Department of Transportation partnering on project

Less than one year since the groundbreaking for the project to widen State Route 400 in Forsyth County, local and state officials will gather Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at
10 a.m. to ceremoniously cut the ribbon on the first portion of widened roadway. Later that day, the
8-mile northbound stretch from McFarland Parkway to just north of Highway 20 will open for motorists.

The project is being made possible through a partnership between Forsyth County and the Georgia Department of Transportation. GDOT contributed $13 million to this work and is managing the project. The remainder of the project funding – approximately $34.5 million – comes from the Forsyth County Transportation Bond. Approved by 63 percent of Forsyth County voters in November 2014, the Transportation Bond will finance a variety of transportation projects throughout the county.

“Less than two years ago, voters approved the Forsyth County Transportation Bond. Just 11 months ago, we broke ground on the widening of State Route 400, one of the most anticipated projects to be funded by the bond, and now we are preparing to open the first segment of the widened roadway,” said Forsyth County Commission Chairman R.J. (Pete) Amos. “The widening of State Route 400 is a tremendously important project for our county, and our citizens are to be commended for making it happen.”

The project includes construction of an additional lane in each direction on State Route 400 from McFarland Parkway to State Route 369, including widening bridges at Big Creek and at Lake Lanier/Sawnee Creek. Work continues on the additional northbound lane from just north of Highway 20 to State Route 369, with a tentative completion in spring of 2017. Work on the additional southbound lane is slated to commence shortly thereafter. The widening project is expected to be completed in mid-2018.

“The results on this project are an example of what can be accomplished by working together,” said Rudy Bowen, State Transportation Board representing the 7^th Congressional District. “Our leaders at the Georgia DOT and the Forsyth County commissioners have done a phenomenal job getting the project delivered to the public in less than a year. It was a brave decision for Forsyth leadership and its citizens to take on the responsibility of investing in transportation.”

The ceremonial ribbon cutting will be held in the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority Park & Ride lot off of Deputy Bill Cantrell Memorial Road (formerly North Old Atlanta Road) in Cumming.

Following the ribbon cutting October 5, Forsyth County will continue its focus on transportation with the Forsyth County Transportation Summit being held at the Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Technical College. Attendees will hear updates on transportation projects from officials from both Forsyth County and the Georgia Department of Transportation. Lunch is at 11:30 a.m. and the program is at noon. For information or to register, contact the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce: www.cummingforsythchamber.org or (770) 887-6461.