Major roads top transportation priority for Gwinnett SPLOST

Major road construction and road resurfacing are two of the top priorities of a citizen group that advises Gwinnett County on how to spend key transportation funds.

The Citizen Project Selection Committee makes recommendations on how Gwinnett should spend proceeds from a special sales tax for construction projects that voters will consider Nov. 8. If approved, the special local option sales tax is expected to generate $950 million over six years, including at least $406.9 million for transportation projects.

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The citizen committee recently recommended a budget for spending the transportation funds:

- Bridges, culverts and transportation drainage: $46 million.

- Capital projects rehabilitation and resurfacing: $114 million.

- Intersections: $45 million.

- Major roads: $118 million.

- Residential speed control: $750,000.

- Road safety and alignment: $30 million.

- School safety: $20 million.

- Sidewalks and pedestrian safety: $30.5 million.

- Transportation planning: $1.6 million.

- Unpaved roads: $1 million.

Total: $406.9 million.

The top priority - major roads - includes new roads, road widening and significant interchange improvements.

The county Board of Commissioners will have the final say on how the money is spent. If voters approve the sales tax, the citizen committee would recommend specific projects to be paid for with the sales tax money.