Road Construction At Alpharetta Theater To Be Completed

By David Pendered - http://www.ajc.com/

An intersection improvement at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park appears likely to be complete when the theater opens May 10, a North Fulton business leader said Monday.

Georgia Power completed its job Friday to relocate power lines at the intersection of Maxwell and Hembree roads, said Ann Miller Hanlon, chief operating officer of the North Fulton Community Improvement District.

Moving the power lines was a major part of the effort to improve access to the theater from the region west of Ga. 400. The intersection already is congested, Hanlon said.

The intersection of Maxwell and Hembree roads is getting some additional lanes and traffic light upgrades, Hanlon said. The power lines had to be moved to accommodate the work, she said.

Alpharetta is working on the Maxwell-Hembree intersection as part of the citywide upgrade of 10 intersections, Hanlon said.

The CID contributed about $800,000 toward the $14 million citywide improvement effort, Hanlon said. The CID is a coalition of business owners along the Ga. 400 corridor from Holcomb Bridge to McGinnis Ferry roads. Members pay additional property taxes to help pay for transportation and other community improvements.

"Getting the power lines moved was a really big step to improve the intersection," Hanlon said. "The city of Alpharetta has been pushing a rush order on getting that intersection finished before [Encore Park] opens."