*100-mile event would close Ga. 400 *
A unique cycling event could be on north Fulton’s horizon and Roswell would be its start and finish line.
Called a century ride, the event route would cover 100 miles, some of it on a stretch of Ga. 400, which would be closed to vehicular traffic for a brief period on a Sunday morning.
The ride is being proposed as a benefit for the Georgia Transplant Foundation.
At transportation committee meeting last week, Roswell Mayor Jere Wood told council members the city was approached last month about a charity 100-mile bike ride in Roswell with some of the route also to be in Alpharetta.
“Our suggestion was to combine the rides and do one ride around north Fulton and get all the cities involved,” Wood said.
He said he took the idea to the North Fulton Municipal Association and received tentative support from all of the mayors, of Milton, Alpharetta, Mountain Park, Johns Creek and Sandy Springs.
The route for the ride would go through all of those cities, beginning and ending in Roswell at the King’s Ridge shopping center on Holcomb Bridge Road.
Georgia Department of Transportation would have to approve closing Ga. 400 at 6 a.m. Sunday, July 12, between Holcomb Bridge and the Northridge exits. Wood estimated closure would be necessary for around half an hour to allow riders to clear the highway and pass into Sandy Springs.
Roswell Transportation Director Steve Acenbrak, who is president of Bike Roswell, would be point man in drawing up the route and getting the DOT permit.
Century rides have been very popular in other areas of the state such as rural west Georgia, Covington and Dahlonega, where riders and spectators have brought economic boosts to lodging and restaurants.
While it is uncertain how many riders a first-time event in north Fulton would draw, Acenbrak said, “I can assure you a lot of people will be interested in riding on [Ga.] 400. It would be a novel event.”
On Monday, Councilwoman Becky Wynn, who is transportation committee liaison, said Roswell’s financial outlay for the century ride is expected to be minimal. “The costs would be spread out over multiple jurisdictions, so the city would not be bearing the brunt of it,” she said.
“I’m fairly confident our council will approve this,” Wood said on Monday.
The next steps include applying for the GDOT permit and finalizing a proposed route. The mayor said he will be bringing the planned route to the March 19 municipal association meeting for feedback and agreement.
Labels: 100 mile event, century ride, georgia transplant foundation, go 400, North Fulton, Roswell
# posted by
Brian Vanderhoff @ 8:25 AM
