North Fulton Roads To Close For 2 Months (ICYMI)

ALPHARETTA, GA — The city of Alpharetta is expected to close two roads next week for two months to accommodate a major construction project, a necessity that will cause traffic headaches for motorists who rely on these major thoroughfares to get to and from their destinations.

Rucker Road and a large segment of Mayfield Road are scheduled to close Tuesday, May 29 and remain inaccessible to motorists traveling through the area until Aug. 5, the city said this week. Only residents who live within the closure area will be able to access the impacted sections of the road.

Rucker Road will be closed from the Alpharetta city limits near Houze Road/S.R. 140 to Wills Road. The closure will allow for the replacement of one of two bridges and for additional construction work that is part of a planned $18.5 million improvement project. A similar closure will be in effect along Rucker Road for the summer of 2019.

"Aside from the bridge replacements making the closure of Rucker Road absolutely necessary, closing the roadway will allow us to complete a three-year construction project in about a year-and-a-half," Alpharetta Director of Public Works Pete Sewczwicz said. "No matter how we do the work there will be an inconvenience to the public, but this will let us get through the project and out of everyone's way a lot faster."

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Mayfield Road will be closed between Bethany Road and Canton Street so that a culvert at Foe Killer Creek can be replaced. While Alpharetta said it hopes to have that project completed ahead of schedule, Sewczwicz cautions that ensuring the work does not negatively impact the creek or surrounding properties will make the project take longer than normal.

He also explained that there is not sufficient space along either road in which to install temporary bridges so that the roads can remain open while permanent replacements are built.

Motorists who use Rucker Road as part of their daily commute are encouraged to instead detour down Houze Road to Hembree Road to Highway 9. Alternatively, drivers can take Crabapple Road/Ga. 372 to Charlotte Drive to Mid Broadwell Road; however, other construction projects in the area are likely to result in heavier than usual delays along that path.

To get around the Mayfield Road closure motorists should detour along Mid Broadwell Road/Milton Avenue using either Bethany Road or Canton Street.

"These closures will significantly inconvenience residents who live along Rucker and Mayfield as well as a large number of commuters who travel to and from Alpharetta from Cherokee and Cobb Counties," said Sewczwicz. "Unfortunately, that is unavoidable, so the best thing we can do is push through these projects and get the roads reopened as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we appreciate everyone's patience and understanding."

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