The Georgia Department of Transportation has advised the City of Alpharetta that the completion date for the State Route 9 Improvement Project has been moved out to late 2025. Construction began on the project in April 2021, and the original schedule called for completion in the Spring of this year.
According to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), the original timetable has been negatively impacted by delays in underground and overhead utility relocations, including water and sewer lines, power, and communications utilities. Additionally, design plans at some locations along the corridor have had to be changed due to changes in right-of-way requirements stemming from new residential developments.
The State Route 9 Improvement Project is a $50 million reconstruction project that will widen the 3.6 miles of the state road to four travel lanes from its intersection at Upper Hembree Road through Windward Parkway. Additionally, turn lanes will be provided at key intersections and raised medians added in other locations. Other features include the addition of 10-foot-wide sidewalks with ADA-compliant sidewalks, bike lanes, on-street parking in key locations, pedestrian lighting, and ornamental landscaping. Traffic signals, pedestrian signals, and stormwater infrastructure along the road are also being upgraded.
Planned Activity Through March 2024:
The primary activities in the southern section of the project (from Upper Hembree Road to Devore Place) will consist of utility relocations, construction of sidewalks, installation of curb and gutter, and construction of concrete islands and driveways. In the area between Maxwell Road and Devore Place, road widening will begin and new storm drains will be installed.
In the northern section of the project (from Vaughan Drive to Windward Parkway) utility relocation work will continue and boring will begin for new traffic signal conduit. Additionally, between Vaughan Drive and Cogburn Road, crews will begin installing new storm drains. Between Cogburn Road and Windward Parkway, crews will continue widening the road and will also begin construction of sidewalks, curb and gutter, concrete islands, and driveways.
Impacts During Construction:
In general, GDOT has restricted lane closures, traffic pacing, or movement of construction equipment or materials to minimize impacts on traffic during peak commute hours. This means that lane closures are generally not permitted on weekdays from 6AM to 9AM and 3PM to 9PM or on Sundays between 8AM and 1:30 PM. Periodic detours and traffic shifts should be expected, however, while construction of the State Route 9 Improvement Project continues.
For safety, some sidewalks in the area are currently closed to pedestrian traffic, but in those areas, sidewalks remain open on at least one side of the roadway.