The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to close the scenic, winding section of Buford Dam Road that straddles Lake Lanier for about a month this fall.
The 2-mile stretch will be shut down from Oct. 4 to Nov. 5 for a repavement project, said Lisa Coghlan, spokeswoman for the corps' district office in Mobile, Ala.
"There's no detour," she said. "That's the only bridge going across the dam and we're going to close two lanes."
The corps looked into leaving one lane open during the construction, but Coghlan said it was "just not safe."
She estimated the closure could add about 15 to 30 minutes to commute times.
During the closure, east-west travelers crossing Lanier can take Hwy. 369 on the lake's northern end or Hwy. 20, to the south.
The corps is one of three government entities doing work along Buford Dam Road in the coming months. The city of Cumming and Forsyth County also have projects.
The city's undertaking will widen the road to four lanes with sidewalks from Hwy. 9 to Sanders Road. Clearing for that project is expected to begin within the next few days.
The county's project is twofold. It will add turn lanes where the road crosses Samples and Lanier Beach South roads, as well as straighten out the "severe angle" at which the streets meet.
The county also plans to improve the pavement on Buford Dam Road from Sanders Road to Kenny Drive, and add a one-foot paved shoulder to each side.
The county project is expected to be complete by the end of October.
Jimmy Vaughan, city engineer for Cumming, pointed out the heavy traffic potential from the roadwork during a recent city council meeting.
"Buford Dam is going to have quite an exciting fall and winter season with these three projects going on on one single road," he said.
Staff Writer Jennifer Sami contributed to this report.
The 2-mile stretch will be shut down from Oct. 4 to Nov. 5 for a repavement project, said Lisa Coghlan, spokeswoman for the corps' district office in Mobile, Ala.
"There's no detour," she said. "That's the only bridge going across the dam and we're going to close two lanes."
The corps looked into leaving one lane open during the construction, but Coghlan said it was "just not safe."
She estimated the closure could add about 15 to 30 minutes to commute times.
During the closure, east-west travelers crossing Lanier can take Hwy. 369 on the lake's northern end or Hwy. 20, to the south.
The corps is one of three government entities doing work along Buford Dam Road in the coming months. The city of Cumming and Forsyth County also have projects.
The city's undertaking will widen the road to four lanes with sidewalks from Hwy. 9 to Sanders Road. Clearing for that project is expected to begin within the next few days.
The county's project is twofold. It will add turn lanes where the road crosses Samples and Lanier Beach South roads, as well as straighten out the "severe angle" at which the streets meet.
The county also plans to improve the pavement on Buford Dam Road from Sanders Road to Kenny Drive, and add a one-foot paved shoulder to each side.
The county project is expected to be complete by the end of October.
Jimmy Vaughan, city engineer for Cumming, pointed out the heavy traffic potential from the roadwork during a recent city council meeting.
"Buford Dam is going to have quite an exciting fall and winter season with these three projects going on on one single road," he said.
Staff Writer Jennifer Sami contributed to this report.
