In October 2009, the county announced that the 2005 SPLOST was likely going to collect $67 million less than the $730.6 million originally projected. The county had built up a savings of $15 million in bids that came in lower than expected, but the SPLOST was still going to be $42 million short of projections. Therefore, officials announced that 22 projects totaling $42 million would have to be deferred or not built to make up for that loss.
Of those, four have since been built or funding has been identified for future construction. The others, however, appear doomed, especially if the proposed 2011 SPLOST does not get voter approval in March.
The loss of necessary federal funding killed two projects that totaled $2.3 million. Those included widening State Route 280 (South Cobb Drive) from four to six lanes divided and creating a new two to four-lane roadway to be called Powder Springs Road Connector.
Four others have been placed into the proposed 2011 SPLOST project list as top priorities, though the public would have to approve the SPLOST for those projects to be built. Those include improvements at the Six Flags Drive and Lee Industrial intersection ($2.8 million); minor safety improvements to curb and gutter along Woodland Brook Drive ($756,302); phase two of Shiloh Road and Shallowford Road for safety and operational improvements ($4.6 million); and Cooper Lake Road sidewalks from Beechview to South Cobb Drive ($365,451).
The six scrapped sidewalk projects, totaling $2.4 million, include Hicks Road from Meriweather Drive to Floyd Road ($365,300); Hurt Road from Merry Oak Road to Floyd Road ($258,134); Floyd Road from Austell Road to the East-West Connector ($367,011); Cooper Lake Road from Beechview to South Cobb Drive ($365,451); Atlanta Road from Anderson Drive to Cooper Lake Road ($309,058); and along Log Cabin Road ($742.5644).
Cobb Department of Transportation Deputy Director Dan McDuff said sidewalk projects were built in order of priority set by the Cobb DOT, and these six were deemed a low priority or lacked of community support.
Other projects that will not happen with 2005 SPLOST funds include improvements on Lower Roswell and West Sandtown roads; intersection improvements at Johnson Ferry and Sewell Mill roads, and Windy Hill and Powers Ferry roads; improvements to the school entrance at Pope High School; and a roundabout at Cooper Lake and King Springs roads.
The four SPLOST projects that were originally thought to be lost, but have since been built or funded include intersection improvements to Bells Ferry Road, traffic congestion easements near Teasley Elementary School, improvements to Kennesaw Due West Road near Pine Mountain and Hayes Elementary schools, and a $1 million traffic signal timing improvement project. The two school projects were originally deferred because officials from the Cobb County School District decided at the time of deferment that they would not complete their own anticipated projects at the schools. But the school district has since moved forward with its improvements and partnered with the county.
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However, a median is sorely needed. The road is unsafe with the center turn lane.
The County & Municipalities agree that each approved SPLOST project associated w/ this Agreement shall be completed or substantially completed w/in 5 years after the termination of the SPLOST!
This seems to me that to make an assessment as to whether the 2005 SPLOST has been completed as instructed cannot be known until 2016.
This projects has never been finished and is a safety hazard.
I bet this project is waiting on another SPLOST.