Roswell, Johns Creek Continue Nesbit Ferry Talks

The city of Johns Creek has a proposal for Roswell: We'll take Nesbit Ferry Road if you help pay for a light at the Brumbelow intersection and make improvements to the road first.

That proposal is the latest in discussions between the two cities that began with talks of installing a light at that location.

After numerous inquiries from Johns Creek residents, the city of Johns Creek had conducted studies and determined that the intersection needed a traffic light for safety purposes. .

About two-thirds of the intersection at Nesbit Ferry and Brumbelow roads is in Roswell, with the rest in the Johns Creek right-of-way.

Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker and Councilmember Ivan Figueroa recently met with Roswell Mayor Jere Wood and Councilmember Betty Price to explore options, which included Johns Creek annexing half or all of Roswell's right of way on Nesbit Ferry Road from Holcomb Bridge Road to the city limits just beyond the Scott Road intersection.

The Johns Creek City Council then requested city staff to study that option and make recommendations on how to proceed.

Johns Creek Public Works Director Tom Black advised the city council this week that annexing the entire portion would be the most viable option.

"Right now we can't permit a left turn [signal] into Rivermont," he said. "I'd rather be in control of our own destiny."

Johns Creek Councilmember Brad Raffensperger said that another benefit to annexing Roswell's portion would be the possibility of creating an "entryway" into the Newtown area of Johns Creek on the city's border.

Johns Creek will meet with Roswell again, stipulating that they would take on Roswell's right of way if Roswell first helped pay for a traffic signal and also brought the road up to snuff. Estimates are that Nesbit Ferry repairs would cost Roswell about $500,000, would could potentially come from state aid.

If Johns Creek takes Roswell's right of way, the city would save in yearly maintenance costs for the road, approximately $7,500 to maintain four traffic signals; $3,000 a year for grass maintenance; and $5,280 for utility costs.