Duluth Parks and Recreation and Planning staff are scheduled to conduct the final inspection on the Chattapoochee Park at Rogers Bridge Park this Friday (Jan. 20). Dog owners already have been using the three-acre park for the past couple of weeks.

The city’s first dog park consists of two acres for large dogs over 20 pounds and one acre for small dogs under 20 pounds. They include room to run and play, a nature trail, benches, interactive fountains, and dog agility equipment.

A grand opening celebration for the park is planned in the spring when the fountains will be operational. The dog agility equipment is expected to be installed in March.

The park, which was designed by Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates, was constructed by Georgia Development Partners. Ground was broken for the project in late September.

Design and construction costs are being paid for with SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) funds. 

The update on the dog park was included in a report on construction projects in the city presented by Duluth Planning Director Glenn Coyne at the Monday (Jan. 23) Duluth City Council work session. Here’s a summary of the report:

McClure Bridge Road – Contractor Georgia Development Partners is making progress from Pleasant Hill Road to the Roundabout. Curb and gutter, sidewalks and drainage structures are being installed. Utility coordination is almost complete, and we have had great cooperation from Georgia Power, Charter Communications, and Atlanta Gas Light. Delays have been experienced due to rain and to AT&T taking much longer to relocate several buried and overhead cables. But, at this point, the contractor is not anticipating a revised completion date past March 2012.

Irvindale Road Roundabout – The sites have been graded are beginning to take the form of the future roundabout. Utility coordination is almost complete. A 10-inch waterline has been relocated by Gwinnett County without service interruption. The project also has been delayed by rain and AT&T utility relocation. Completion is still scheduled by the contractor Georgia Development Partners for March 2012. The roundabout will connect the proposed Hospital Connector, McClure Bridge Road and Irvindale Road. The city council agreed during the work session to place awarding bids to three firms for traffic counts, engineering and environmental services on the Feb. 13 regular meeting agenda so that work on the Hospital Connector can start after the roundabout opens this spring. The bid for construction of the connector is expected to be let in 2014.

Irvindale Road Sidewalk Loop – The contractor OHMSHIV Construction mobilized on Jan. 3. Sediment controls have been installed, grading is underway, and forms have been placed for pouring sidewalks beginning the week of Jan. 16. The project is scheduled for completion in September 2012.

Chattapoochee Dog Park – The fountains, parking areas, walkways, fencing and landscaping have been installed. On Friday, Jan. 6, Duluth Planning and Parks and Recreation staff inspected the project and prepared a punch list. Six minor items are remaining to be done. A final inspection is scheduled on Friday, Jan. 20.

West Gwinnett Bikeway Phase I Peachtree Industrial Boulevard (PIB) from North Berkeley Lake Road to Pleasant Hill Road – Duluth Planning staff has continued to coordinate construction progress with Gwinnett County, The contractor is performing project cleanup, which should be completed soon. The 10-foot bikeway along PIB is now open for use.

West Gwinnett Bikeway Phase II PIB from Pleasant Hill Road to the Hooch Golf Course – The concept report was approved Aug. 3, the preliminary field plan review completed in December, and environmental documents were approved in January 2012. Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2012.

W.P. Jones Community Building for Active Senior Adults – The groundbreaking was held on Jan. 3, and the contractor Renaissance Building Construction mobilized the next day. The building is expected to open in August 2012.

Hospital Connector – The city has taken over as project manager from Bron Cleveland Associates. Duluth planning staff met with consulting firms previously working on the project. The council plans to let bids for their continued services at its February meeting.

State Route 120 Realignment – The concept report has been approved, but no further work has been initiated. City staff is working with consultant Phil McLemore (former Duluth city administrator) to compile a history for this project in order to explore alternatives for moving this project forward.

Davenport Road Extension – Consultant McLemore is assisting city staff to determine alternatives for initiating this project.