Officials from the City of Cedartown recently addressed concerns over the North Main Road Project, particularly the storm water pond, as part of the road construction in the area.

“The storm water pond at the site of the old Olympia Motel has sparked many questions and comments,” said City Manager Barry Atkison.

“The retention pond will remain indefinitely to control storm water runoff in the North Main area. As stated in a previous press release on April 3, the pond will handle storm water from the surrounding area via storm drainpipes, culverts and surface runoff. During heavy rainfalls, the pond will fill, then slowly disperse water to the surrounding water shed. The Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) and the City of Cedartown will monitor the pond’s effect on the surrounding water shed.

“The DOT is installing a six-foot chain link fence around the pond. Once the project is complete, the city will move quickly to landscape the outside of the fence to make it more attractive. We would love to have it adopted by a local organization or garden club.

“The city is also taking an aggressive stance to control mosquitoes as the site. We are already spraying seven days per week. Additionally, the city is treating the pond with mosquito larvaecide briquettes. The briquettes kill the mosquito larvae before they have an opportunity to hatch.”

According to the city manager’s office, the utility relocation and installation is approximately 98 percent complete and should be finished within the near future. During the relocation process, many homes and businesses have suffered from water and power outages, as well as various gas leaks as a direct result of the construction.

Atkison said that the city does not predict any more utility problems due to the relocation. “We do not expect any additional widespread water outages, although some isolated outages are still possible,” he stated in a press release.

He continued in saying, “Even though business owners, their employees, customers and residents have experienced much inconvenience as a result of the impact from this project, I believe everyone will be proud of the result. Upon completion of the project, traffic flow should be improved and pedestrian accessibility and safety should be enhanced.

“The curb and gutter work is progressing nicely, and will continue for several weeks. Once curbs, gutters and storm drain openings are installed, paving crews will move in to begin the widening process. As most citizens have noticed, many street elevations have changed. DOT officials have informed the city that smooth transitions to existing driveways, side roads, and parking lots will be accomplished. Additionally, all new sidewalks will be handicap accessible.”

The DOT North Main Project is an exclusive DOT project. All funding for the project is supplied by the DOT. The prime contractor for the project is Bruce Albea Construction, Rockmart.

“The only cost to the city is for oversight engineering,”Atkison said, “which is provided by R.J. Wood Engineering, Macon, and for some incidental water maintenance expenditures associated with the utility relocation work.”

Any additional questions may be answered by calling the DOT field office at 770-748-9419, or by calling the City Hall at 770-748-3220.