Roswell council looks at …

Polls show that the economy is most Americans’ biggest concern. But for many in north Fulton, as well as the rest of metro Atlanta, traffic issues might be even more vexing.

In Roswell, city council members in an October workshop will be discussing a handful of conceptual proposals with an eye on adding them to the city’s master transportation plan

“Each of these items has the potential to add value to the city, however, the most significant projects in my opinion are ones that have an emphasis on relieving congestion, increasing connectivity, and promoting redevelopment,” said Councilman Rich Dippolito, council liaison to the transportation department.

The master plan is a blueprint for transportation projects that council would like to see done in the city. Some of the projects in the plan may not have funding, but they have the support of council and will be considered as funding becomes available, Dippolito said. He cited two of the new concepts as ranking highest on his list of desirable projects. One is an early exit ramp on northbound Ga. 400 at Market Boulevard.

“This ramp will provide traffic relief by enabling local eastbound traffic and cars headed northbound on Old Alabama to avoid entering onto Holcomb Bridge Road,” Dippolito said. “It will also reduce the weaving that occurs as cars exit 400 and merge left in order to turn at the Holcomb Bridge/Old Alabama intersection.

“In addition, it will promote redevelopment at the southeast corner of Holcomb Bridge Road and 400 by improving access and traffic flow in the area.” Second on his list are improvements to Cherry Street, Green Street and Plum Street.

“This project will upgrade Cherry Way from Green Street to Alpharetta Street to accommodate two-way traffic and add sidewalks in select places,” Dippolito said. “With the success of this area adjacent to Canton Street, we have seen an increase in pedestrians and vehicular traffic. These upgrades to the streets and sidewalks will increase safety and provide a more walkable environment that will lead to more investment and redevelopment similar to what we have seen on Canton Street.”

The improvements would also create a stronger pedestrian connection between Canton Street and Alpharetta Street, which will strengthen Roswell’s efforts to redevelop the midtown corridor, he added.

Some of the other as-yet-unfunded projects up for consideration include improving drainage and roadway on Pine Grove Road between Lake Charles Drive and North Coleman Road; realigning the south end of Mimosa Boulevard west of its current alignment to line up with a new intersection at Marietta Highway and Barrington Drive; and extending Oak Street west to Mimosa Boulevard from its current end at Atlanta Street.

ALL-STAR ANGLERS HEADLINE EVENT AT ALABAMA'S LAKE JORDAN « THE TICKER

The 6,800-acre Coosa River impoundment will serve as the first-round playing field for a competition like no other in professional bass fishing. From the July 23-24 Ramada All-Star Semi-Final at Lake Jordan, only the top eight anglers will advance to be seeded in a bracket-style head-to-head finale. The Evan Williams Bourbon All-Star Championship is July 29-31 on the Alabama River, Montgomery, Ala. Winner takes all: $100,000. Fans are also invited to come early Saturday to the Wetumpka Civic Center to sample food from the “Cookin’ on the Coosa” barbecue competition, cooked by experts showing off their talents to support the Elmore County Community Foundation. On Sunday, the band Sweet Young’Uns will perform at 4:30 p.m. (CT), just before the anglers bring their fish to the scales. Sweet Young’Uns are scheduled to play another set after the weigh-in. VanDam is widely argued as the greatest competition angler of all time. He is the reigning Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year, his seventh overall and fourth consecutive title. He also is the reigning champion and four-time winner of the prestigious Bassmaster Classic. He has more than $5.2 million in career earnings, 20 tournament wins and 95 finishes in the Top 10. Each pro has been “virtually” paired with a fan selected randomly from the pool of Toyota Trucks All-Star voters. When the actual champion is crowned July 31, the fan paired with him will win a Triton 18XS bass boat with a Mercury 150 OptiMax engine, together valued at $30,000. All 12 fan-finalists will win a tackle pack from Berkley and Havoc and a replica fishing jersey of the pro they are paired with.

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