TOLLS PAY FOR THIRD LEFT TURN LANE AT MANSELL ROAD-NORTH POINT PARKWAY

Construction begins this fall on lane designed to move traffic off GA 400 exit ramp and through the intersection more quickly.

Traffic should improve at the Mansell Road-North Point Parkway intersection with the addition of another left turn lane, but the construction that will begin this fall won't make it seem that way at first. Using dollars paid in tolls on GA 400 to fund it might ease driver's minds as they deal with the construction hassle.

The North Fulton Community Improvement District (CID) approved more than $800,000 in improvements at two Georgia 400 interchanges–Old Milton Parkway and Mansell Road–at its board meeting last month. The North Fulton CID board voted to construct a triple-left-turn lane at the intersection of Mansell Road and North Point Parkway. The lane extension will replace the existing double-left-turn lane on Mansell Road east-bound, reducing traffic bottlenecks that affect GA 400 daily.

The State Road and Tollway Authority, chaired by Gov. Nathan Deal, is funding the nearly $350,000 construction cost. Butch Thompson Enterprises of Kennesaw will break ground on the project in fall 2011.

Two exits north at the GA 400 Old Milton Parkway interchange, Russell Landscape Group will install more than $400,000 in trees, shrubs and other landscaping enhancements. The landscaping will match previous CID projects completed throughout the commercial district.

“Response to the CID’s new landscaping projects at Windward Parkway, Haynes Bridge and Mansell Road has been very positive,” said North Fulton CID Chief Operating Officer Ann Hanlon. “These interchanges are a greeting card to anyone coming into the District. Once Old Milton Parkway is complete, all four interchanges will create gateway entrances to this vibrant commercial area.”

In the news release, Hanlon said both projects are in keeping with the North Fulton CID’s Blueprint North Fulton master plan. Blueprint North Fulton creates a cohesive vision to guide transportation and development initiatives throughout the commercial areas that make the up the CID in Alpharetta, Milton and Roswell.

The North Fulton Community Improvement District is made up of commercial properties stretching along GA 400 from Mansell Road north to McFarland Road, who agree to pay additional taxes to fund projects such as these. For more information on the North Fulton CID, contact Ann Hanlon at (678) 397-0566, or visit www.NorthFultonCID.com.

By Bob Pepalis, Alpharetta-Milton Patch