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BRIDGE PLANS
Milton considers aesthetics in bridge replacement plans By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia. com MILTON, Ga. — With upgrades underway on four bridges across the city, Milton officials discussed plans to begin work on LEADERS two more during their Dec. 2 meeting. The proposed state and federally funded bridge replacement projects span Little River at the Cherokee County border along Hickory Flat and Clarity roads in northwest Milton. The structures are just a few hundred yards apart. The bridge on Clarity Road is 70 years old and has a lower condition rating than the 56-year-old crossing on Hickory Flat Road. Milton has 31 locally owned bridges but monitors only six that do not meet length requirements for Georgia Department of Transportation inspection. Other bridges are on state routes. For the three replacement projects underway, Milton has contributed $250,000 to their $13 million cost from its portion of countywide sales taxes. Those replacements are along Hopewell, Freemanville and McGinnis Ferry roads.
Meanwhile, the city’s TSPLOST fund is paying for the $3 million replacement of the middle Birmingham Road bridge and $800,00 in general repairs to other crossings. The city has three options for funding bridge repairs and replacements, apply for direct federal grants, continue to use state resources or tap the city’s capital funds. GDOT provides a cost-saving opportunity for the city. The agreement requires a local contribution of $50,000 for each replacement, totaling $3.5 million for the Hickory Flat Road bridge and $1.6 million for the one on Clarity Road. The catch is GDOT will design and construct the local bridges. While the state’s priorities are cross-county connectivity and the structure’s load capacity, Milton wants them to fit with its brand. The recommendation comes through the state agency’s local bridge replacement program, primarily because of the structures’ worsening conditions and weight restrictions. After discussion, Milton officials told Public Works Director Sara Leaders to ensure the Georgia Department of Transportation meets all the city’s conditions before proceeding with state funding on both replacements. There is
See PLANS, Page 22
MALIAH GOLDEN/PROVIDED
Cambridge’s white team fifth grade captains take the field for the coin toss at Lassiter High School Nov. 23. The Bears blue team team won over Marietta, 160, and the 6A team fell to Walton 12-8.
Transformative season for youth football program proves successful By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga — It’s not often that a team’s first year in a new league yields success on the field, and it’s even more unlikely that integrating a smaller league into a bigger one would yield success across the board. A new league was no match for the teams representing Cambridge, Milton and Alpharetta (making up the North Atlanta Football League), all of which saw immense success after joining the Cobb Football League this season. Teams from the North Atlanta Football League that compete in tackle
football saw a transition this season to participate in the Cobb Football League. Second through fifth graders competed in a new league, and every team saw success with most making their championship game. Both teams representing Cambridge’s class of 2032 (5th grade) reached the championship game at their level. The white team, coached by Thomas Delahunt, despite a serious defensive fight, fell to Walton on the last play of the game, final score 128. The blue team, coached by Austin Ragans, took down Marietta 16-0. The
See FOOTBALL, Page 22
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