Politics & Government

Cobb Chairman Gives Updates on Road Projects

Also in his e-newsletter, Tim Lee reminds county residents of the new fine for those who pass buses as they're letting children off.

By Cobb Commission Chairman Tim Lee

As part of Cobb County Department of Transportation’s commitment and partnership with the Cobb County School District, we regularly schedule most of our work in and around schools during the summer break when there is less impact on the schools and traffic.

We are concluding another successful summer and have the following projects substantially complete and ready for the opening of Cobb County public schools next week:

Find out what's happening in West Cobbwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Paper Mill Road at Sope Creek Elementary School 
This project added a right turn lane and lengthened the left turn lane on Paper Mill Road at the main school entrance. School driveway improvements included a new left turn lane for motorists exiting the school, and traffic signal and pedestrian signal upgrades. 

Jiles Road at Kennesaw Elementary School 
School zone improvements, part of the Jiles Road Improvement project, have provided traffic and safety improvements to the main school entrance. Enhancements include a new right turn lane into Kennesaw Elementary and creation of separate right and left turn lanes for traffic exiting the main school driveway. 

Find out what's happening in West Cobbwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

New Macland Road Drainage Improvement Project (near McEachern High School) 
This project included replacement of old, deteriorating, metal-pipe cross drains in the area with a new 48" reinforced concrete pipe. Roadway shoulder work remains, including installation of sidewalk on both sides of New Macland Road. 

Addison Elementary School at Ebenezer Road 
Relocation of main school driveway, a major goal of this project, has provided enhanced sight distance, improved traffic circulation on school property, and increased traffic queuing for the existing right turn lane into the school. 

New Mableton Elementary School at Church Street 
(CCSD SPLOST III-funded project) 
This CCSD-funded project has constructed a new Mableton Elementary School facility on property adjacent to the existing school site. The project included closure of nearby Sky View Elementary and transfer of these students to the new Mableton Elementary, almost doubling student enrollment. The new school facility is scheduled to open at the start of the 2012-2013 school year.

New Clarkdale Elementary School at Ewing Road 
(CCSD SPLOST III-funded project)
 
CCSD constructed a new Clarkdale Elementary School facility adjacent to Cooper Middle School on Ewing Road. The old school site, off nearby Clay Road, flooded in the record September 2009 flood event. This new school facility is scheduled to open at the start of the 2012-2013 school year.

Please click here for complete report.

Drivers warned to stop for school buses loading passengers

As the new school year is set to begin, Cobb Police Department staff . Georgia has a School Bus Stop Law. All traffic in both directions must stop when school buses stop for passengers, except when there is a divided highway of four lanes or more with a median separation. In that case, only traffic following the bus must stop. On average, each school bus is illegally passed once every day and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 20 children under the age of 19 die every year as pedestrians getting on and off buses.

When an officer catches drivers violating this law, the penalties are a possible court appearance, a fine up to $1,000, six points on driving record and a license suspension for convicted drivers under 21 years old. When a stop arm camera catches drivers, the penalties are a $300 fine for the first offense, $750 fine for the second offense and $1,000 fine for the third offense, within a five year period. For more information, visit operationstoparm.info

Early voting begins for election runoffs 

Advance voting begins Monday, Aug. 13. The following locations are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13 through Friday, Aug. 17.

•Cobb Board of Elections office
736 Whitlock Ave., Marietta, GA 30064
•East Cobb Government Service Center
4400 Lower Roswell Rd., Marietta, 30068. 
•South Cobb Community Center
620 Lions Club Drive, Mableton, GA 30126. 
•Northstar Church
3413 Blue Springs Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144. 
•Boots Ward Recreation Center at
4845 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs 30127.

Sample ballots are available online at the Cobb Board of Elections website and are posted at every precinct in Cobb.

GDOT I-285 Road Resurfacing Project Update 

The resurfacing project in the northwest quadrant of Interstate Highway 285 between Ashford Dunwoody and Paces Ferry roads will begin in the main travel lanes this weekend after it was postponed last weekend due to poor weather conditions.Two left lanes will be closed eastbound from New Northside Drive to Ashford Dunwoody Road all weekend.

Below is the tentative work schedule for the weekend. The contractors will pave according to Plan A, if the weather permits.below. If there is some poor weather, but not enough to stop all work for the weekend, the contractors will implement Plan B. 

PLAN A - Traffic interruption for Friday, Aug 10 to Monday, Aug. 13

•I-285 eastbound mainline & inside shoulder - 2 left lanes & inside shoulder closed, west end of project to east end of project 
9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 10 – 5 a.m., Monday, Aug 13
-1 crew milling and paving beginning at Chattahoochee River 
-1 crew milling and paving beginning at Long Island Bridge

•Westbound Exit 18 on ramp from Paces Ferry Rd 
9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 10 – 5 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 11

PLAN B - Alternate traffic interruption due to poor weather and reduced lane closuresfor Friday, Aug 10 to Monday, Aug. 13

•Exit 259 75 Northbound off ramp to 285 eastbound – Left lane and shoulder closed, 9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 10 – 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 11

•Exit 259 75 Northbound off ramp to 285 eastbound – Right lane and shoulder closed, 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 11 – 7 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 12

•Exit 20 Eastbound ramp – Left lane and shoulder closed beyond 75 northbound split, 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 12

The basic operational concept for all project work will be ramp resurfacings (necessitating their closures) on weeknights and mainline milling and paving throughout the weekends. During the ramp closures, signed detours will be in place. 

For more information, please click here

Senior Wellness Center to open doors, now hiring instructors

• The new center will have its offical ribbon cutting at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 29. It is located at 1150 Powder Springs Street in Marietta. Click here for invitation.

• Cobb Senior Services will offer quarterly classes beginning this fall and need instructors. Qualified teachers needed for a variety of classes including yoga, Pilates, Zumba, visual arts, crafts and more. Please send resume, references and pertinent information to Cobb Senior Services, P.O. Box 649, Marietta, GA 30061, Attn: Mary Boyd or email to Mary.Boyd@cobbcounty.org.  

For additional info, please click here.

Watch the latest segment of Spotlight on Cobb 

This includes updates on the new Senior Wellness Center, Cobb County DOT's initiatives, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service's program updates. 

Click here to view.

Upcoming 

• Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting, 9 a.m., Aug. 14.

• Board of Commissioners Zoning Hearing, 9 a.m., Aug. 21.

• Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., Aug. 28.

• Planning Commission Meeting, 9 a.m., Sept. 6.


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