The Georgia Department of Transportation says the messed-up sidewalk along South Cobb Drive in Smyrna between McCauley and Kings Spring roads is going to get fixed.

Who's going to fix it? That's still up in the air.

Crystal Paulk-Buchanan, spokesperson for the Georgia DOT, said the agency is negotiating this week with the contractor of a townhome development that wasn't built.

The contractor put in three entrances that were not paved, and the drop-offs disrupted the sidewalk for runners, bikers and walkers.

"It would be a lot faster for them to make the repairs," Paulk-Buchanan said. "If it doesn't get resolved, we'll move forward with cashing out the bond and make those repairs."

Before beginning construction, a developer or property owner must provide a guarantee that all construction within the DOT right of way is paid for. That's usually a bond.

However, Paulk-Buchanan said it took five months to get the bond cashed for another situation in Cobb County. That means it would probably take longer to fix the sidewalk if the DOT had to do it.

Eventually, the sidewalk should no longer cause problems for pedestrians and cyclists.

"They have to make it look like it did before," Paulk-Buchanan said.

WHO'S LOOKING INTO IT

Bryant Poole

District engineer for metro Atlanta, Georgia DOT

770-986-1011

bpoole@dot.ga.gov

DAYS ON OUR LIST: 7

WHAT'S BROKEN NEAR YOU?

We want tips from Cobb and Cherokee county communities. E-mail us at krosen@ajc.com.