It was standing-room only with more than 200 people at a recent meeting hosted by Peachtree Corners to review five design options for the proposed Peachtree Parkway Pedestrian Bridge.
Community Development Director Diana Wheeler presented five designs ranging from a traditional stone bridge with bell towers to a contemporary cable suspension structure. Attendees were then invited to submit comments on a questionnaire.
According to Peachtree Corners resident Mary Beth Stickney, attendees had hoped for more opportunity to discuss their concerns and ask questions of city leaders. Several residents at the meeting said they fear any bridge will be too costly and eventually result in higher taxes. Peachtree Corners has maintained a .75 millage rate since its inception three and a half years ago.
According to the city, the bridge will be funded by SPLOST revenues and will not increase local taxes. The city has not released an estimated cost for the bridge.
Adam Jones-Keeley, President of Conway, Inc. favors the bridge, “As the president of an international company headquartered in Peachtree Corners and a resident of the city, I’m a strong advocate for the construction of an iconic symbol for our community. We need a landmark structure so that we can be remembered, known for something more than that new city that used to be Norcross.”
More meetings to gather public input will be scheduled, but it’s not known when the city council will vote on the project.
In the next ten years, traffic on Peachtree Parkway is anticipated to increase to over 50,000 vehicles per day. Officials are particularly concerned with safety as pedestrians cross the six-lane roadway between the city’s planned Town Center and the existing Forum Shopping Center.
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