Lauren Johnson

Roadmap for Success

Canton’s Infrastructure to Help Residents, Businesses Achieve Goals

BY LAUREN JOHNSON

Improving infrastructure for future demands was a part of Canton’s plans before the Roadmap for Success was created. To achieve this tenet, the city will continue to build on this foundation. Here are some updates on infrastructure projects in the works, including the Water Pollution Control Plant, state Route 140 improvements and city-county road connectivity projects.

Heritage Park Restrooms

New restrooms are being installed at Heritage Park. The facility will be located at the trailhead, near the parking area behind Popeye’s and Canton Mill Lofts.

Residents, businesses and visitors need access to the Canton infrastructural network to succeed in their goals. Transportation, power supply, gas availability, water and sewer, and digital connectivity are part of building a great network for success.

Transportation Master Plan

A major initiative of the city this year is the Transportation Master Plan. Using community input, this plan will assist in forming decisions for upcoming transportation projects including roadway design and expansion, pedestrian enhancements and other mobile opportunities. A final presentation of the plan will be provided during a January City Council meeting.

State Route 140 Improvements

The city is working with engineering consultants on improvement plans from state Route 140 at the intersection of Marietta Highway and Riverstone Parkway up to Mary Lane and, additionally, at the intersection of state Route 140 and Reinhardt College Parkway. These projects are funded through a partnership between the city of Canton and Georgia Department of Transportation.

Water Pollution Control Plant

In January 2021, Canton successfully secured $65 million in financing for the expansion of its Water Pollution Control Plant, which will allow for a complete upgrade of the existing systems and structures as well as an expansion of treatment limits from 4 million to 7 million gallons daily. To date, the expansion of the city’s sewer plant continues to be on time and on budget. Canton expects to provide biological treatment processes to expand capacity by summer 2023, with the final project completion in late 2024.

Canton Police Records Management System

Canton Police Department has a new software system through Central Square that will provide more efficiencies in police operations. It will take a period of months to convert the data and roll out the operation, but thanks to the hard work of the police department research team, this system will be in place very soon. Additionally, new Panasonic Tough Books were purchased for the department. The funding for the software was from Police Impact Fees charged on new developments in the city, and the new laptops were funded through the special-purpose local-option sales tax.

City-County Collaborative Efforts

A city-county project aimed at providing better road connectivity cleared several hurdles recently. The Technology Ridge Parkway project will realign the Heard Road and Fate Conn intersection in north Canton. Phase I recently was approved by the state, and the county started construction. In this phase, a new roadway will be built between Bluffs Parkway and Fate Conn, just north of Park Village. The final project will include road improvements to the Cherokee County Airport.

Teasley Middle School Intersection

The construction of new turn lanes and a traffic signal at Hickory Log Creek Drive and Reservoir Drive near Teasley Middle School is almost complete. A delay in the scheduling of concrete pushed the curbing portion of the project beyond the start of school. The turn lanes have been installed and utilities have been relocated. The mast arms and signal equipment are the remaining portion of the project to be completed.

Pedestrian Bridge Grant

The city’s grant application, seeking more than $600,000 in matching funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission for a potential pedestrian bridge on the Etowah River, recently was approved. Canton’s Economic Development and Tourism Manager Angie Busby worked tirelessly to submit all the documents and credentials for the project. Once constructed, the bridge will connect the trail segment, currently under construction, between Heritage and Boling Parks with The Mill on Etowah. As a second phase to the project, the city would provide for the creation of river access for canoes, kayaks and tubes at The Mill side of the bridge.

Lauren Johnson is the marketing and communications specialist for the city of Canton.