Rucker Road to reopen but will close again in ’19

After being closed since May 29, a road in Alpharetta will reopen to drivers Friday evening.

In a news release, the city said Rucker Road should be open for Friday’s evening commute. The road was closed so crews could replace a bridge and conduct additional work related to an $18.5 million improvement project.

The road will close again May 28, 2019, for additional work.

“The goal was to have Rucker ready for buses and commuters when school begins on Monday,” Alpharetta Public Works Director Pete Sewczwicz said. “In spite of a very rainy summer and some challenges with utility relocations, we will meet that goal and fulfill the promise made to our residents.”

Sewczwicz added that crews will spend the remainder of this week fin- ishing catch basins, removing construction and other debris from the road, and cutting weeds and grass along the right-of-way. Where new asphalt has been laid, new lane striping will be completed unless rain prevents that and temporary striping has to be applied instead.

The city began planning to improve Rucker Road in 2013, and there is still much work to be done.

A second bridge will be replaced on the eastern end of the road, roundabouts will be constructed at Charlotte Drive and at the intersection of Fairfax Drive and Dennis Drive, new sidewalks will be built, new medians will be constructed and the entire road will be repaved.

“The Rucker Road Corridor will remain an active construction area until the end of 2019,” Sewczwicz said. “So everyone should expect slower commutes, periodic lane closures and Rucker Road to not be very attractive for several months.”