Alpharetta to close Rucker this summer for roadwork

Rucker Road in Alpharetta will again be closed this summer for major bridge and road work, the city announced. AJC FILE

Rucker Road in Alpharetta will again be closed this summer for major bridge and road work, the city announced. AJC FILE

Rucker Road in Alpharetta, a key east-west route for commuters, will be closed for a second summer in a row for major construction.

The street will be closed May 28 to Aug. 10 from the Alpharetta city limits near Houze Road (Ga. 140) to Wills Road. The closure will coincide with summer break for Fulton County schools, city officials said.

Residents in the closure area will have access to their homes, but others will have to detour. One suggested alternate: Houze to Hembree Road to Ga. 9.

The closure allows the replacement of a bridge, the construction of two roundabouts and other work, part of $18.5 million in improvements. Closing Rucker is necessary because there’s not enough room to build a temporary bridge, said Alpharetta Director of Public Works Pete Sewczwicz.

“The ability to completely close the road for two summers is also allowing us to complete a 3-year construction project in less than two years,” Sewczwicz said. “This will let us get through the project and out of everyone’s way a lot faster.”

Rucker Road was closed for nearly three months last summer while a second bridge was replaced and utilities along the corridor were moved, officials said. The inconvenience was made even more so when the city had to also close part of nearby Mayfield Road for an emergency culvert replacement.