Sugar Hill Greenway
TriScapes Construction (TSI) continues construction on the 3rd & 4th segmentS of their contract that take the proposed trail from Level Creek Road westward to Whitehead Road. More specifically, they are working on installation of a series of boardwalk segments in the environmentally sensitive areas. These segments follow the old Georgia DOT right-of-way for the outer perimeter project and take visitors through many of the most scenic places in the city. Bridge and boardwalk construction is some of the longer divisions of work to be completed and is taking some time to work through. A pedestrian crossing signal has been installed on Level Creek Road near the back entrance to Gwinnett Church where the trail will cross (just south/west of Markim Forest subdivision). The signal, at the entrance to the city’s newest park (Goldmine Park-440 Level Creek Road) will be activated once the trail is closer to completion and the county approves the installation.
The trail will extend into the wooded area just north of Gwinnett church connecting Level Creek Road with PIB. Clearing and grading have begun in this section.
Greenway Trail Segment – Graded Future Trail segment through woods just north of Gwinnett Church.
While the segment on Level Creek Road and through EE Robinson Park (North) has been paved, some sections are still blocked off and within the contractor’s work zone. The public is encouraged to stay off the trails in these areas until the barriers are removed and it is safe to use. The trailhead at Bethany UMC on Whitehead has been constructed and is awaiting progress on the trail segments closer to the area prior to final completion.
The Sugar Hill greenway trail is a transformative investment in greenspace, alternative transportation and recreation opportunity. The benefits of the trail have been described in terms of economics by way of improved property values, health effects by way of improved activity levels, environmental protections by highlighting the natural environment encircling the city, and traffic demand reductions by decreasing reliance on automobile trips (to recreation, restaurant and shopping destinations). Reference Sugar Hill’s greenway trail master plan website for more information about this and future phases. www.sugarhillgreenway.com
Project Highlights
- The trail was envisioned in 2014, with the first trail segment completed in 2018 along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.
- The greenway is comprised of 11.5- linear miles of greenspace and will be connected by nearly 16 miles of walking and biking trail sewing together key destinations/nodes in the city.
- The trail will be 10 to 12 feet in width and be paved with concrete along roadways and asphalt in natural areas.
- The first phase connects downtown with (3) three parks and (2) trail head parking lots clockwise from downtown to Gwinnett Church and westward to Whitehead Road.
- The entire trail is expected to cost about $17 – $20 million by the time future phases are constructed.
- Most of the first phase is constructed with SPLOST (voluntary sales tax dollars) funds.
- Phase 1 (5 miles) anticipated completion date – Q1, 2022.
The TSI contract will encompass about 4 and a half miles of trail construction, beginning at the intersection of Level Creek Road and Church Street and extending both along roadways and through natural areas to Whitehead Road, temporarily ending at a trailhead parking lot at the Bethany UMC Church located at 144 Whitehead Road near the new bridge.
Gold Mine Park. Site development work is well underway with much of the focus now on the driveway to Level Creek Road. TriScapes (TSI) was awarded the contract and is making progress on the small (2.4AC with 7 acres of greenspace), but important park. The park serves as a trailhead on the city’s greenway and offers a chance for guests to learn more about the city’s gold mining history. The park will have some 50 parking spaces, a restroom, bicycle racks, and information about the cultural and historical significance of the area.
Goldmine Park has had its erosion controls installed for some time and the contractor is currently working on site utilities installation.
LMIG – Roadway Repairs & Resurfacing. Allied Paving has now completed the six roads in the Frontier Forest neighborhood as of the end of November with some striping and valve/manhole adjustments remaining to finish out the project.
City Hall Parking Deck Resurfacing. The city selected Engineered Restorations to remove and reinstall the parking deck coating at city hall. A similar product (with 10 year warranty) was chosen to address concerns with water infiltration into the slab. A 73-wet mil thick coating will be applied after removal and prep work is completed, providing a long-lasting driving surface for the area. Construction began on October 25 and will be wrapping up by November 30.
Work has substantially been completed on the new surface of the parking deck. Remaining items include addressing intrusion from the eastside entry into city hall.
