(Lawrenceville, Ga., Nov. 20, 2009) - Five road improvement projects got the green light from Gwinnett commissioners Tuesday, two funded entirely by sales tax revenues plus three to be completed in partnership with Gwinnett's three Community Improvement Districts (CIDs).

An upgrade of the intersection of North Road and Pinehurst Road will add left and right turn lanes to all approaches, a new traffic signal and pedestrian facilities. This project is expected to take approximately nine months to complete. A section of Ridgedale Drive west of Pinehurst Road will also be improved, providing a better curvature to the roadway, new roadside shoulders and left and right turn lanes at its intersection with Little Lisa Lane. This work will take approximately six months to complete. The construction contract for both projects was awarded to Urey Company Constructors, the lowest of 13 bidders. The $1,269,000 cost will come from the 2005 SPLOST program.

A project to improve the intersection of Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Singleton Road will? receive an additional $962,500 in 2009 SPLOST revenues from the County, matching federal money provided by the Georgia Department of Transportation and an earlier County commitment of $100,000 in seed funding. The Gwinnett Village CID will manage design and construction and acquire necessary right-of-way for the project, which will improve pedestrian access and provide additional turn lanes.

The County also agreed to provide $962,500 in 2009 SPLOST funds for improvements to Venture Drive. The Gwinnett Place CID project will relocate Venture Drive's intersection with Pleasant Hill Road and will widen Venture Drive from Pleasant Hill Road to Steve Reynolds Boulevard.

Evermore CID agreed to provide $290,745 to help build a pedestrian bridge over the Yellow River and realign sidewalks from just east of the river to Lake Lucerne Road along the north side of U.S. Highway 78. The CID will handle all preconstruction activities and the federal government will provide an additional $359,960 for construction. There will be no cost to the County for this project.

Gwinnett Transportation Director Brian Allen said, "We're glad that SPLOST and federal funds are allowing us to keep making road improvements despite these tough economic times, and we're pleased to partner with all three CIDs to move their projects forward."