Hapeville’s makeover of Virginia Avenue set to begin

By John Thompson

For the AJC

By next spring, pedestrians and drivers should notice a fresh new look on Virginia Avenue.

The Hapeville City Council on Tuesday night approved the $1.3 million bid of Pinnacle USA Inc. to proceed with the streetscape improvements on Virginia Avenue.

City Manager Bill Werner explained the half-mile project will add new sidewalks, lighting and landscaped medians from Norman Berry Drive to Doug Davis Drive in the south Fulton County city.

“This has been a long time coming, and we’re anxious to get it started,” Werner added. The project was started in 2004 as part of the Atlanta Regional Commission's Livable Centers Initiative.

The project had gotten bogged down in various government agencies, but Werner said a group of Hapeville residents helped get the project back on track. The city manager said it was mostly done by staff and Department of Transportation officials, with a push by residents curious as to when the project would get under way.

“The levels of review on this type of project are enormous. Streetscape improvements are major issues that take a while to work through the system,” Werner said.

The approval of the bid will now be forwarded to the state DOT for a final approval of the construction contract. After the contract is approved, construction will start, and city officials are hopeful the project will be done by March.

The city is also working on improving the streetscape area on Doug Davis Drive and assembling plans and bids for continuation of the project.

Werner said the streetscape improvements are part of the city’s ongoing efforts to replace the city’s aging infrastructure and improve the city’s aesthetic appearance.

The city also approved a $13,560 contract with Pond & Company and Jack Burnside to oversee the project. Burnside will provide monthly updates to the City Council on the status of the construction.