Gwinnett Daily Post

STONE MOUNTAIN -- A southern Gwinnett business district received a $500,000 state grant to help with a road project.

The Evermore Community Improvement District announced the award of the Local Maintenance Improvement Grant last week, to help fund a series of connector roads along U.S. Highway 78.

The funds, which typically go to local agencies and governments, are set aside for repair, maintenance and "last-mile connectivity."

Connectivity has long been a focus of the CID, which has planned a series of projects to build a parallel network along the well-traveled U.S. 78 corridor. The grant will help to move forward a connector road at Old U.S. 78 and Britt Road, which is not currently scheduled for completion.

"We are very pleased the Georgia DOT, through the cooperation of former Chairman Rudy Bowen and Commissioner Keith Golden, has identified this phase of the connector road project as a priority and thus made this grant available for this Evermore CID road project," CID Board Chairman Chris Garner said in a press release. "This half-mile project is a centerpiece of two existing Federal Highway projects currently under way, and will ultimately tie together the vision for improving safety and creating alternatives for commuters traveling along Highway 78."