Roswell advances land buying for road projects

Roswell will spend up to $500,000 on right-of-way services for the Rucker Road improvement project and $260,000 to acquire land for the Oxbo Road realignment. AJC FILE

Roswell will spend up to $500,000 on right-of-way services for the Rucker Road improvement project and $260,000 to acquire land for the Oxbo Road realignment. AJC FILE

To speed up the process, the Roswell City Council has given blanket approval to spend up to $500,000 on right-of-way services for the proposed improvement of Rucker Road from Houze Road (Ga. 140) to the Alpharetta city limits.

Rucker is to get a two-way center turn lane, 8- to 10-foot multi-use trails on both sides of the road and bike shoulders, according to a staff report to the council. Construction is expected to begin next summer as a joint venture with Alpharetta. The $500,000 will be funded by the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax approved by voters in November.

In another right-of-way matter, the council gave authorization for the city to acquire a 0.43-acre tract at 726 Pleasant Hill St., at a purchase price not to exceed $260,000, for the Oxbo Road realignment project. The landowner is willing to sell and the acquisition also will be funded by the TSPLOST.