Forsyth County to rebuild Bethel View boardwalk with precast concrete; GMP expected in June 2026

Russell Brown, presenter of On the Move, visited the Bethel View Trailhead in Forsyth County to discuss a multi-phase renovation of the Greenway with Kirk Franz, director of parks and recreation, and John Jefferson, director of capital projects.

The county closed phase 4 of the Greenway—the Bethelview Trailhead north to Kelly Mill—after officials determined sections of the all-wood boardwalk had deteriorated in wetland-prone areas. "It turned into a safety problem," Kirk Franz said, describing failing foundation and rot that made closure necessary while the county develops a permanent fix.

County staff selected a progressive design-build team through a qualifications-based process and have been collecting survey and geotechnical data to advance design work. John Jefferson said the team is prioritizing Section 4 for reopening while also monitoring Section 3 and a short connection to Fowler Park. "We do expect to have a GMP, a guaranteed maximum price proposal from the design build team, and we hope to get that in front of the board in June of 2026," Jefferson said.

Officials said the project will be a renovation rather than a simple maintenance repair. The contractor proposed using PermaTrak, a precast concrete board system, instead of replacing the timber deck. Franz described that material as more durable and faster to install, saying, "we're projecting about 50 year lifespan on this type of product." He added the design work includes moving trail alignment in historically flooded areas to reduce future damage.

County staff said funding for the work is included in the capital improvement program and referenced a voter measure on-air as helping support large projects; officials asked the public for patience while the board reviews the GMP. There was no formal vote or board action taken during the on-site interview.

Next steps: the design-build team is expected to submit a guaranteed maximum price to the county board in June 2026; if the board approves the GMP, the county plans to release the contractor to begin construction. No definitive dates for phased reopenings beyond that board review were provided on-air.