Plans to improve a confusing intersection in Cumming moved forward Tuesday night.

During its monthly meeting, Cumming City Council approved advertising for bids for waterline work at the Mary Alice Park Road-Hwy. 9 crossing.

Jon Heard, director of the city’s utilities department, said the lines in the area will be affected during construction.

"The waterlines will be disturbed and will need to replaced," he said.

The bids would likely be brought before council for a decision in December.

The state Department of Transportation is overseeing the road project, though Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt said the city paid $1.5 million of the expected $6.4 million cost.

DOT officials are expected to take bids for the project in December, with construction slated to begin in the spring.

The project involves Hwy. 9 where it meets Meadow Drive and Bald Ridge and Mary Alice Park roads.

Improvements are scheduled to include connecting Mary Alice Park and Bald Ridge roads. They will then flow together and join Meadow, which will be extended.

Meadow will then meet Hwy. 9 at a traffic light, and stop signs will be added at Mary Alice Park and Bald Ridge roads.

Gravitt said he’s pleased the project is moving forward.

"We’re real excited about this because we’ve been trying to get something done at that intersection for more than 20 years," he said.