Christmas is coming early for Forsyth County in the form of $2.5 million.
The money, which will come from the state Department of Transportation’s budget, will be used to widen Bethelview Road from Hwy. 9 to Castleberry Road.
The project has long been a priority for the county, but the ongoing slump in sales tax collections has limited funding to improve the busy road.
Though the county hopes to one day complete the project from Hwy. 9 all the way to Hwy. 20, this is a start, said District 23 state Rep. Mark Hamilton, who helped secure the state funding.
“I think this just makes sense to go ahead and let’s just address the largest need at this time of those two projects ... and then we’ll address the main part later,” said Hamilton, a Republican from Cumming.
“Anybody that has driven on that section of the road knows that it’s just in terrible condition. The growth has been phenomenal not only in the retail businesses there, but also the residential traffic.”
County Commissioner Patrick Bell heralded the news in an e-mail Thursday to “let people know that our elected officials are still working hard for us.”
“Representative Mark Hamilton should be commended for providing leadership and assistance in securing GDOT funding relating to the Bethelview Road improvements,” Bell wrote.
“John Cunard, our director of engineering, was also instrumental in this success and I appreciate his dedication to Forsyth County and the needs and concerns of the citizens.”
The DOT, county, consultants and Hamilton met in late September to see if the state could find funding to cover acquiring the necessary right of way.
Hamilton said the county could move forward on the project with the $2.5 million.
Before a decision was made, Hamilton said, DOT Director of Planning Todd Long drove along Bethelview.
“There’s nothing like real world experience to see what that area looks like and feels like,” he said. “It really helped him get a better handle on the growth that has come up here.”
Hamilton said the $2.5 million is a “true example of how the state ... and our local government can work together.”
The money, which will come from the state Department of Transportation’s budget, will be used to widen Bethelview Road from Hwy. 9 to Castleberry Road.
The project has long been a priority for the county, but the ongoing slump in sales tax collections has limited funding to improve the busy road.
Though the county hopes to one day complete the project from Hwy. 9 all the way to Hwy. 20, this is a start, said District 23 state Rep. Mark Hamilton, who helped secure the state funding.
“I think this just makes sense to go ahead and let’s just address the largest need at this time of those two projects ... and then we’ll address the main part later,” said Hamilton, a Republican from Cumming.
“Anybody that has driven on that section of the road knows that it’s just in terrible condition. The growth has been phenomenal not only in the retail businesses there, but also the residential traffic.”
County Commissioner Patrick Bell heralded the news in an e-mail Thursday to “let people know that our elected officials are still working hard for us.”
“Representative Mark Hamilton should be commended for providing leadership and assistance in securing GDOT funding relating to the Bethelview Road improvements,” Bell wrote.
“John Cunard, our director of engineering, was also instrumental in this success and I appreciate his dedication to Forsyth County and the needs and concerns of the citizens.”
The DOT, county, consultants and Hamilton met in late September to see if the state could find funding to cover acquiring the necessary right of way.
Hamilton said the county could move forward on the project with the $2.5 million.
Before a decision was made, Hamilton said, DOT Director of Planning Todd Long drove along Bethelview.
“There’s nothing like real world experience to see what that area looks like and feels like,” he said. “It really helped him get a better handle on the growth that has come up here.”
Hamilton said the $2.5 million is a “true example of how the state ... and our local government can work together.”