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Council hears bridge, path and right‑of‑way updates as federal and consultant funding advances projects
Summary
Council received updates on a GDOT bridge design and cost estimate reduction, federal grant funding for the Winter's Chapel Path, and staff requests to award right‑of‑way acquisition work for Happy Hollow and Mount Vernon Path projects.
Dunwoody staff briefed the City Council on several transportation and trail projects during the Nov. 10 meeting, including a revised cost estimate for a GDOT pedestrian/bike bridge project and new grant and consultant commitments for local paths.
Bridge update: Staff reported progress in negotiations with the Georgia Department of Transportation on an Interstate bridge and shared‑use path. GDOT has agreed to allow a decorative barrier between the path and the road and to remove some previous markups and contingencies; the preliminary cost estimate in the staff presentation decreased from about $2.1 million to roughly $1.1 million. Staff cautioned that selection of a developer and detailed plans remain part of a multi‑year process; construction is still several years away under GDOT’s timeline.
Grant award: The city secured an additional $150,000 in federal funding from the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Transportation Alternatives Program to support preliminary engineering for Winter’s Chapel Path phase 2 (Charmont Place to Peeler Road). Staff said local matches have been satisfied and announced a public meeting planned for February 2026; construction is planned for 2028.
Right‑of‑way procurement: Design completion for the Happy Hollow sidewalk and Mount Vernon Path phase 2 allowed staff to identify the limited permanent and temporary easements needed. Staff recommended contracting Croix Engineering for right‑of‑way acquisition services: $122,500 for Happy Hollow and $99,900 for Mount Vernon Path; both would be funded from SPLOST capital budgets per the staff presentation.
Council asked practical questions about how GDOT’s bridge work will tie into existing city bike/ped facilities, lighting and intersection treatments; GDOT consultants said the bridge and ramp tie‑ins will be coordinated and that vehicular lighting will provide illumination where railing lights were removed at GDOT’s request.
Next steps: Staff will return required contracts and an intergovernmental agreement with GDOT for council action; right‑of‑way contracts were presented for approval under consent or to return as required by purchasing rules.
