Local News
Residents question Barnwell Road's safety after boardwalk damaged
A wooden boardwalk at a curve near Barnwell and Jones Bridge roads in Johns Creek was damaged by a semi-truck Wednesday, Sept. 27.
A pedestrian boardwalk along a controversial road in Johns Creek remains closed Thursday after a vehicle ran across its wooden structure, breaking it in several pieces.
The boardwalk’s recent damage is part of a larger problem — Barnwell Road’s safety and design. Residents have complained for months that the 2.5-mile, two-lane corridor is unsafe for travel because of its narrow lanes and shoulders, poor sight distance, constant speeding, and few sidewalks or trails for pedestrian access.
The boardwalk, which runs alongside the road, was closed after a lowboy semi-trailer damaged the wooden floor boards at a curve near Barnwell and Jones Bridge roads Wednesday morning, said communications director Jeff Breslau.
The city’s public works department is working on repairs to the wooden boardwalk, which Breslau said could take a week or two to reopen.
Residents have long questioned the need for the wooden boardwalk, and this week took their concerns to social media. Some wondered why the structure was not built with concrete.
The area of the curve where the damage occurred is in an Oak Tree Preserve, and a concrete sidewalk would damage roots and the tree itself, city planner Jennifer Glenn said.
To address safety concerns of residents who live in adjoining neighborhoods, city council members voted in April to trim bushes and install sensors and flashing warning lights on Barnwell Road at Niblick Drive to alert drivers of oncoming traffic.
