SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs’ contractor for constructing a 12-foot-wide path along Ga. 400 got a notice to proceed Jan. 6, teeing up a three-year project to increase mobility between Atlanta and the Perimeter area.
The Sandy Springs City Council approved a $1.5 million contract for inspection and engineering services Feb. 4 as the city and its contractors prepare to break ground on PATH400.
Because the project is partially funded through the Federal Highway Administration and the Georgia Department of Transportation, additional construction inspection support is needed to ensure compliance with mandates.
Sandy Springs News
The 12-foot-wide multi-use path will stretch about 8 miles along Ga. 400, connecting Midtown Atlanta to Central Perimeter and the northern suburbs.
Last May, Sandy Springs awarded a $20.1 million contract to F.S. Scarborough to construct two-thirds of the segments needed to finish the 2.3-mile trail extension from north Buckhead to Central Perimeter.
The city’s contribution to the inspection contract, like the one for construction, is a 20 percent match, with GDOT covering the rest with federal funds.
Atlanta is funding construction of the 12-foot-wide multi-use trail from Loridans Drive to Nancy Creek. Sandy Springs is then building the path’s bridge over Nancy Creek to Windsor Parkway and another segment from Ridgeview Charter Middle School to just north of Johnson Ferry Road.
With funding still up in the air, the middle section is not scheduled for construction this round.
Sandy Springs News
More funding sought
Public Works Director Marty Martin said Sandy Springs is in talks with the Atlanta Regional Commission and GDOT to get funding for the middle segment of the multi-use path from the Atlanta-Sandy Springs city limits to Ga. 400 and I-285.
“No final decisions from them yet, but let me assure you, we’re not waiting,” Martin told City Councilwoman Jody Reichel. “We’re in active discussion with them right now.”
The project’s timing is lining up well with the final major segment south of project’s pick-up point at Loridans Drive is almost finished.
Martin said city staff members reviewed three proposals from consultants based on quality-based criteria, selecting the highest scorer, AtkinsRealis.
City Councilman Andy Bauman said it sounds like the highest scoring bidder displayed a big gap in professional qualifications, including experience, technical approach and past performance.
Martin agreed, saying he has worked well with a member of the AtkinsRealis project team while they were employed at GDOT.
Martin said the amount of time contractors are on-site will vary, with monthly check-ins and the daily presence of a lead inspector throughout the three-year construction timeline.
Some of the required compliance revolves around materials testing and certification, bidding procedure and the documentation of wages and hours.
Mayor Rusty Paul said the city secures construction engineering and inspection services for all federally funded projects.
“This may be the most important contract we approve [besides construction itself],” he said. “A few years ago, we had to return some money to the state Department of Transportation because the contractors we were using didn’t follow all the rules.”
Paul said the city was eventually reimbursed by the contractor, but Sandy Springs wants to avoid problems in the future.
“There’s a whole laundry list of things,” he said. “This will keep us out of trouble, hopefully.”
Stream bank improvements
In other business at the meeting, elected officials heard an update on design plans for stream bank improvements to a tributary of Marsh Creek within Abernathy Greenway South.
Because of a widening of Abernathy Road, city staff said there have been dramatic changes to drainage patterns, causing erosion. The planned stream bank stabilization and storm water project, totaling $3.9 million, look to make the park usable for residents in the future.
At the same time, there is a 60-year-old sewer line beneath the creek bed servicing about 10 homes in the area that would need to be removed before construction. City officials said there are ongoing discussion with Fulton County.
The City Council voted to approve the $400,000 federal grant from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division with a $1.5 million local match for a portion of the project. The city has budgeted the funds to complete the project.
“We have had a lot of conversations with the adjoining neighborhood, and it’s very important for them,” Paul said. “The water is polluting the stream and creating problems downstream.”