Sandy Springs officials are expecting around $27 million in active construction projects along Mount Vernon Highway and at the corridor’s intersection with Johnson Ferry and Roswell roads to wrap up before the end of May.
The Sandy Springs City Council approved a contract extension with Jacobs Engineering Feb. 3, adding $170,885 and four additional months of inspection services for both construction projects east of downtown Sandy Springs, labeled TS191 and TS192.
The project ties the City Springs downtown district to Central Perimeter and Dunwoody. When completed, there will be a sidewalk or multi-use path on both sides of the Mount Vernon Highway corridor for pedestrians and cyclists from city hall to the Sandy Springs MARTA station.
Mount Vernon wraps up
Jacobs is handling engineering and inspection services, agreeing to its initial contract in early 2024. Sandy Springs is contracting with Vertical Earth for the construction of the intersection project (TS191) and Excellere for the rest of the Mount Vernon Highway corridor (TS192) to Abernathy Road.
City officials are anxious to have the project wrap up as soon as possible to alleviate traffic congestion, neighborhood frustration, and local business disruptions. The worst delays are around Veterans Park, a triangle at the three-way intersection.
Mayor Rusty Paul said the “May-ish” deadline is a little concerning, with prior end-of-construction estimates for April.
Public Works Director Marty Martin said he speaks with City Manager Eden Freeman almost daily about the ongoing projects.
“We’ve got a good bit of utility work right at Mount Vernon/Johnson Ferry underway right now,” Martin said. “That’s the aerial-to-underground conversion work still taking place. As that work is completed, we can finally get to the surface adjustments at the curb line to get the final grade. So that’s going to be closer to the end of the project, unfortunately.”
Martin said construction was pushed back four months because of additional utility work not identified by the project engineer or the Atlanta Watershed Management Department.
Preparing to widen Hammond
Later in the meeting, officials approved a contract amendment, adding to a contract for the demolition of a seventh single-family home along Hammond Drive. The city has acquired nearly all of the 37 residential parcels necessary for the roadway expansion.
The city’s updated contract with Complete Demolition Services is about $240,000. The extensive widening project is set to begin by the end of the year.
City staff said most of the homes were built in the 1960s and contain asbestos, increasing demolition costs. Council Member Frank Roberts voted against the amendment, citing high costs.
Public Works Director Marty Martin said the city has worked with nearby homeowners over the last six years on addressing concerns about construction impacts.
The design of the project allows it to be constructed in stages while maintaining vehicular access, Martin said.
In 2020, the project was estimated to cost between $59.6 million and $64.6 million. It is funded through the Fulton County Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or TSPLOST program, up for renewal in November 2026.
City condemns property
At the end of the Feb. 3 meeting, city officials unanimously approved the use of eminent domain to acquire a sliver of 6036 Kayron Drive, necessary for the Hammond Drive widening project.
The city is paying the homeowner $157,700 for 0.06 acres of fee-simple right-of-way and 0.03 acres of temporary construction easement, after the property owner’s legal team requested $400,000.
City Attorney Dan Lee said negotiations with the property owner’s eminent domain attorney lasted around a year, and the compensation matches surrounding agreements.
“Unfortunately, this same family had a house on Johnson Ferry Road that lost a piece of its property to the Johnson Ferry project – just as a coincidence,” Lee said.
In other business:
• The Sandy Springs City Council appointed Stephen Leeds to replace Andrea Settles on the Planning Commission and reappointed member Elizabeth Kelly for terms ending Jan. 31, 2030.
• Council members approved a contract with the PATH Foundation for the design of Segment 2C of Morgan Falls Loop. As an alternative to paths, Council Member Melody Kelley advocated for funding to construct sidewalks along Adair Lane.
