Improvements coming to McGee Rd & US78 Intersection

There has a false rumor floating around that McGee Road would be widened and go all the way to Highway 124. What is really going on is a road alignment, so that McGee Road will line up better with Cambridge, the street on the other side of US-78. There will also be an opening in the median, turn lanes, and safer pedestrian features.

If you're uncertain where McGee Road is, think of the Fountain Square shopping center that houses The Clogging Connection, the Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, Archery Learning Center and the Business Center. Treasure Chest Thrift Store and South Gwinnett Park are also nearby.

These road improvements have a huge price tag ($636,800 paid with SPLOST funds), but I think it will be a good investment as the area grows. That side of Snellville has kind of run downhill in recent years, and something like this could be a real "shot in the arm" to get business jumping there again in an area of Snellville that I think has a lot of potential.

A view of S. Gwinnett Park & Sign for Fountain Square

An intersection on U.S. 78 will be rebuilt and Pine Road and Jim Moore Road will get sidewalks by next fall. The Board of Commissioners approved the two transportation contracts on Tuesday using SPLOST sales tax funding.

West of downtown Snellville, construction crews will relocate Cambridge Street so it lines up with McGee Road on the opposite side of U.S. 78. The new intersection will get a traffic signal, an improved left turn lane, a median opening and full pedestrian access. In addition to County funds from the 2005 SPLOST program, the City of Snellville, the Evermore Community Improvement District, and federal dollars through the Georgia DOT will help pay for the project. The lowest of six bidders was ISC, Inc., at $636,800. Construction should be finished by next fall.

Pedestrians benefit from road upgrades
Duluth Weekly

9 injured after car crashes into Snellville restaurant

UPDATE: Click here for photos

UPDATE: 9 people were injured 
UPDATE: Details about car crash into Snellville restaurant emerge

It's really lucky that nobody was killed in this incident. This happened at the shopping center that is at the corner of  US78 (Main Street) and Scenic Highway/124. The Hot 'N' Cold Chinese Buffet is on the Big Lots end of the shopping center. There had to be some serious speed for the vehicle to go over the median and hit the restaurant - because I know there are usually several rows of parked cars between the highway and the restaurant. Some reports said that the vehicle was driven by a woman in her 50's and that the vehicle hit a row of shrubbery before it hit the restaurant. I'm also hearing that she accelerated as she exited the Krystal restaurant across the street.That has not been verified, however. An eyewitness said it was a terrible scene with quite a bit of panic and smoke.

8 injured after car crashes into Snellville eatery
Atlanta Journal Constitution
By Raisa Habersham Eight people were injured after a car crashed into a Snellville restaurant near Highway 78, according to Gwinnett County officials. ...

Evermore CID considers move to Stone Mountain

Evermore CID to vote on move to Stone Mountain
Atlanta Journal Constitution
The next step is a feasibility study to determine its long-term viability, he added. The CID will meet at 2:30 pm at Inviting Events in Snellville.

Gas leak closes down US78

A gas leak at Highpoint Road in Snellville has closed US78 in both directions. Yep, construction crews...again.

A construction crew struck a 4-inch gas line at 10:30 a.m. while digging on Highpoint on the north side of U.S. 78, Gwinnett fire officials said.

Two employees from the VFW on U.S. 78 were evacuated, but no injuries have been reported.

From Gas leak closes U.S. 78 in Snellville, AJC, 1-20-10

The article says that emergency crews from Atlanta Gas Light are acting on this, but there's no word about when the road will be reopened.