People running or biking along South Cobb Drive in Smyrna between McCauley Road and King Springs Road thought they'd spend several months watching the construction of a new townhome development.

After all, the sidewalk had been ripped up to allow three different entrances into the site.

Nothing was ever built, but the sidewalk is still a mess and the driveway was never paved. A "Sidewalk Closed" sign diverts foot and bike traffic onto busy South Cobb Drive, which isn't a good idea at any hour.

If you stay on the sidewalk, though, there's a drop of more than a foot in some places from the concrete to the gravel surface. Take to Task even got its foot tangled up in a wire coat hanger between the curbs.

"The sidewalk was left in an unusable status," said Mike Dittus, a bike rider. "It created an unsafe condition. They shouldn't be able to dig it up and just leave it like that.

The developer ought to be required to inconvenience the public as little as possible."

Jennifer Bennett, community relations director of the city of Smyrna, said the sidewalk has been a sore subject for about a year.

"We would like for our citizens to know that our hands are tied," she said.

The original developer abandoned the project, and it's now owned by Bank of America and handled by a representative in Baltimore. Bennett said city officials have tried to send possible buyers of the property to Bank of America.

There was some hope of getting a school to purchase the property, but the topography is irregular.

"As far as the roadwork, we can't do anything about it, as much as we want to," Bennett said. "It's actually illegal for us to do it, because it's a state right of way. They won't let us do anything."

The Georgia DOT is looking into the problem, said spokeswoman Crystal Paulk-Buchanan. "There are people at GDOT that are aware of the issue," she said, "and we are actively seeking a resolution."

WHO'S LOOKING INTO IT

Bryant Poole, district engineer for metro Atlanta, 770 986-1011.

bpoole@dot.ga.gov

WHAT'S BROKEN NEAR YOU?

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