(Lawrenceville, Ga., June 8, 2011) - Lanier High School and the Mountain Park Aquatic Center will get new sidewalks this summer. Gwinnett will also build new left and right turn lanes on Rockbridge Road at Summer Cove Drive and replace a drainage culvert at Garner Creek with funding from the 2009 SPLOST sales tax program and stormwater funds. Commissioners approved construction contracts for these projects on Tuesday.

The school sidewalk will be on Old Suwanee Road for about a third of a mile from Buford Highway to an existing City of Sugar Hill sidewalk between Secret Cove Drive and North Price Road, providing pedestrian access from nearby neighborhoods to Lanier High School. The work also includes curb and gutter and road shoulder improvements. CMES, Inc., was the lowest of eight bidders at $203,328.

On the west side of Rockbridge Road, E.R. Snell Contractors, Inc., will build a sidewalk from Lilburn Stone Mountain Road to Five Forks Trickum Road that will connect area neighborhoods to the aquatic center. In addition, left and right turn lanes will be added to Rockbridge Road at its intersection with Summer Cover Drive. Snell was the lowest of six bidders at just under $960,000 for the work, which also includes curb and gutter and drainage improvements.

"These projects are typical of the school safety and sidewalk improvements that are included in the SPLOST program's transportation funding. We continue to construct projects as quickly as possible to improve safety and quality of life in our community," said Gwinnett DOT Director Brian Allen.