Pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers along Riverside Road are getting a complete corridor makeover after the Roswell City Council voted 6-0 on Monday, July 13, 2026, to award a $9.49 million construction contract to BackBone Infrastructure, LLC, the largest piece of a $10.72 million project.

The overhaul adds a continuous multiuse trail, 8 to 10 feet wide with pedestrian lighting, on the south side of Riverside Road and a 5-foot sidewalk on the north side. It also includes a new roundabout at River Lake Drive, a new traffic signal at Taimen Drive, buffered bicycle lanes, and several pedestrian crossings along the corridor from State Route 9 to Old Alabama Road. The trail network will connect to Riviera Road, improving access to Riverside Park.

Fulton County is covering roughly $1.45 million of the total cost through a concurrent waterline improvement project funded by an intergovernmental agreement the council approved at the same meeting.

Andy Phlegar, the city's director of transportation, presented both items to the council, according to the official meeting agenda. The contract went to BackBone Infrastructure as the lowest responsive bidder.

Two residents spoke during the meeting about bicycle lanes, road width, and concerns over speeding, safety, and pollution before the council voted unanimously to move forward, according to Appen Media's post-meeting report.

The project design was shaped by community input during a concept phase before any engineering work began, city staff confirmed in a June 29 open forum Q&A published by Roswell Connections. Staff also noted the plans do not include steel barriers and that pedestrian lighting will operate only at night.

Right-of-way acquisition has been underway since at least December 2025, when the council voted unanimously to file for condemnation on five parcels along the corridor, according to city meeting records.

$98.2 million for Roswell on November ballot

At the same July 13 meeting, the council unanimously authorized the mayor or city administrator to sign an intergovernmental agreement with Fulton County and 13 other cities for the 2026 TSPLOST. Fulton County required all participating cities to sign by Wednesday, July 15.

The proposed 0.75% countywide sales tax would run from April 2027 through March 2032 and generate an estimated $662.9 million across Fulton County. Roswell's projected share is approximately $98.2 million, based on population. Tier 1 projects, including major intersection improvements and new trails, are guaranteed funding if voters approve the measure in November 2026.

Among Roswell's Tier 1 priorities is a $24 million East Roswell Loop Multi-Use Trail connecting Old Alabama Road to Eves Road along Holcomb Bridge Road and Riverside Road, according to the TSPLOST 2026 project list the council approved on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

The next regular Roswell City Council meeting is Monday, July 27, at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 38 Hill St.