Design work begins this week for a section of roadway that is the first phase of the University’s planned development of more than 200 acres of property next to the main NGCSU campus in Dahlonega...
North Georgia College & State University will begin design work this week for a section of roadway that is the first phase of the university’s planned development of more than 200 acres of property next to the main campus in Dahlonega. The NGCSU Foundation purchased the property, known as Radar Ridge, in 2001 to provide for the long-term growth of the university’s central campus.
“Once we know where future buildings will be located on the Radar Ridge property, we’ll extend the road based on the requirements of those designs for the property,” Julio Canseco, NGCSU director of project management, said. “Any future construction – whether it’s dorms or other similar facilities – will require convenient access for construction and delivery trucks. So, this road is step one to gaining clear and safe access to Radar Ridge.”
Canseco said that plans for new building projects on Radar Ridge could be approved in as little as two years, but nothing concrete has been decided. A consulting firm has been selected to provide a master plan update to help determine growth strategies for the central campus and the adjacent Radar Ridge property.
Located south of the NGCSU Athletic Field Complex near Morrison Moore Parkway, the road project will be about one-half mile long and is expected to be completed by December. GeoImage Engineering Planning of Dahlonega will start the design phase for the road this week, and land clearing at the site will start later this month.
Gainesville-based Merritt Contracting Inc. will grade the steep landscape and transform an existing dirt road into a two-lane paved road, complete with sidewalks on both sides, streets lights and underground utilities for gas, water and sewage. The project cost is anticipated to be $1.7 million.
“Landscaping will take place after the road is constructed to stabilize the slope of the grading and avoid runoff from rain eroding the new grade as well as for aesthetic reasons,” Canseco said.
Access to the Radar Ridge property will not be available for the rest of the year during construction. Student groups, most notably the Corps of Cadets, have used the property over the past few years for campus activities, such as field training exercises.