DeKalb County’s Roberts Drive will be getting transportation improvement projects as part of the construction of the new Austin Elementary School, according to a press release.
The improvements include turn lanes into and out of the main entrance to the school, new sidewalk on the west side of Roberts Drive, widened sidewalk on the east side of Roberts and a new traffic signal and pedestrian crossing at the entrance.
“Pedestrian safety, especially in school zones, is a major emphasis of the City Council,” said Dunwoody Public Works Director Michael Smith. “In addition to the traffic-related improvements, this project will add new and wider sidewalks to improve the experience of families walking to school.”
The engineering design has been completed, and utility companies have started relocating utilities that conflict with the planned improvements. The utility relocation will take several months, followed by drainage pipe installation, concrete curb and sidewalk construction between Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Verdon Drive.
The new traffic signal will be installed at the school’s north driveway, which will serve as the main public entrance to the school as well as the Dunwoody Nature Center. The entrance being used for school construction right now will become the bus lane for Austin.
The total construction cost is expected to be $1,350,000, which is well below the available budget of $2,400,000. Funding for the project was approved by the Dunwoody City Council in February. The Georgia Department of Transportation is providing a $300,000 grant for the school safety improvements.
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