Politics & Government
Upgrades Coming This Autumn to Intersection of Campbellton and Barge roads, Just West of I-285
Sidewalk improvements and two turn lanes to make the area safer for pedestrians and drivers
A dangerous stretch of sidewalk and roadway will soon be improved along the north side of Campbellton Road, at its intersection with Barge Road.
The Atlanta City Council voted 8-0 Monday to spend up to $143,380.37 on the improvements. The seven other members of the council did not attend the meeting, which ended early because of the lack of a quorum.
The Rev. Larry Hudson is happy the work is finally set to begin. It has been discussed for at least four years, said Hudson, who serves as pastor at St. Mark AME Church, located at the northwest corner of the Campbellton-Barge intersection.
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“The turning lane will be great for us, because at 5 p.m. you can’t get through the intersection,” Hudson said. “Campbellton backs up all the way to Fairburn, and that’s what backs up traffic on the expressway.
“You also have all the folks in wheelchairs trying to cross,” he said. “This will be a big help.”
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Barge Road is marked by a sign as a "Senior Zone" south of its intersection with Campbellton Road.
The work is set to begin in September, according to Valerie Bell-Smith, senior public relations manager in the city’s public works department.
The contract does not specify a completion date. The terms say the contract lasts a year, and has a one-year renewal option.
This is how Bell-Smith characterized the work to be done:
- Upgrade the existing signals at the intersection of Campbellton and Barge roads;
- Install a channelized right-turn lane from westbound Campbellton Road to northbound Barge Road;
- Restripe the existing crosswalks at all four approaches of the intersection;
- Ensure that the entire project complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990;
- Extend the sidewalk from where it ends on Campbellton Road near the church out to edge of the drycleaning shop, where it will tie into an existing sidewalk.
The contract was awarded to the low bidder, C.P. Richards Construction Co. of Lithonia. The money is coming from the 2008 Quality of Life Bond and other city sources.
Richards has received five previous contracts with the city, all of them to construct sidewalks, driveways, curbs and gutters, city records show. These contracts represent a total cost of about $3.1 million, city records show.