Road closures, school-tax hearings, new classroom rules, major infrastructure work and several development decisions are moving forward across North Atlanta.

Here are ten developments residents should know about as of Thursday, July 23.

1. McGinnis Ferry Road Remains Closed Through Sunday

A section of McGinnis Ferry Road between the Seven Oaks Parkway–Brassfield Drive area and Sargent Road is scheduled to remain completely closed through Sunday, July 26, weather permitting. Crews are installing a 72-inch stormwater pipe beneath the road as part of the larger widening project connecting South Forsyth and Johns Creek. Neighborhood access remains available, but through traffic is being redirected onto Sargent Road, Jones Bridge Road, Brookwood Road and Peachtree Parkway. Drivers should expect those roads to remain busier than usual through the weekend. Forsyth County closure information

2. Mid Broadwell Road Is Approaching Its Scheduled Reopening

Alpharetta’s closure of Mid Broadwell Road is scheduled to end Sunday, July 26, after approximately two months of culvert work near Jennifer Oaks Drive. The city closed the road May 26 to replace an aging culvert at the creek crossing. If construction remains on schedule, reopening the road should restore a useful connection for residents traveling between the Birmingham Highway area and central Alpharetta. Drivers should confirm the road’s status before returning to their usual route because construction schedules can change during final inspections and weather-sensitive work. City of Alpharetta project notice

3. Riverside Road Improvements Are Moving Into Construction

Roswell has approved the construction contract for a major overhaul of approximately two miles of Riverside Road between Riviera Road and Old Alabama Road. The project will add a roundabout at River Lake Drive, a traffic signal at Taimen Drive, raised medians, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and drainage improvements. Contractor mobilization and preliminary work will be followed by periodic lane closures and traffic shifts, although access to neighborhoods, schools, parks and businesses is expected to remain available whenever possible. The project will remove 129 trees and plant 49 new ones; 72 of the corridor’s 95 specimen trees are expected to remain. City of Roswell project overview

4. Forsyth County Is Building Its Own Lake Lanier Water Intake

Construction is underway on a facility that will allow Forsyth County to withdraw raw water directly from Lake Lanier. The project is an important step toward greater control over the county’s water supply as its population and daily demand continue to grow. Forsyth currently relies partly on water obtained through other governments and utilities. A county-controlled intake would strengthen long-term water security and give officials more flexibility during periods of high demand, drought or regional supply pressure. Much of the work will be below the lake’s surface, making this one of the area’s largest public projects that residents may rarely see. Forsyth County construction update

5. Gwinnett School-Tax Hearings Begin Monday

Gwinnett County Public Schools plans to keep its combined property-tax rate at 20.15 mills—18.70 mills for operations and 1.45 mills for debt service. The rate itself would not change, but increasing assessments mean the district expects to collect more revenue, requiring it to advertise a proposed tax increase under Georgia law. The first two hearings will be held at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday, July 27. A third hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. August 3 at the district’s headquarters, 437 Old Peachtree Road in Suwanee. The board is expected to consider final adoption after the hearings. GCPS millage-rate announcement

6. Gwinnett Students Return Under New Phone Rules

The coming school year will bring stricter limits on personal electronic devices throughout Gwinnett County Public Schools. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade may not use personal devices during the school day, while high-school students may not use them during instructional periods. Exceptions are available when a device is required by a medical or learning plan. Eight schools will also provide breakfast and lunch to every student at no charge: Anderson-Livsey, Britt, Centerville, Hopkins, Jenkins, Meadowcreek and Shiloh elementary schools, along with GIVE Center East. GCPS device policy and school-meal announcement

7. Milton’s Next Growth Plan Will Focus Heavily on Deerfield

Milton residents will have another opportunity August 3 to weigh in on the city’s Comprehensive Plan update, including the future of the Deerfield area. Officials are examining how Deerfield can develop into a more cohesive business and residential district without simply copying downtown Crabapple. The discussion includes possible public-private development tools, transportation connections and a short-term list of city projects. After the hearing, the plan will undergo state and regional review before an anticipated City Council adoption vote in October. The eventual document will help guide future zoning, infrastructure and spending decisions across Milton. City of Milton planning update

8. Sugar Hill’s Highway 20 Pedestrian Bridge Is Taking Shape

The pedestrian bridge across Highway 20 is becoming a visible part of Sugar Hill’s expanding downtown transportation network. The main span beams have been installed, and work has shifted toward the E Center side of the crossing. The bridge is intended to connect with a future urban greenway extending toward Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. At the same time, Gwinnett County is widening Highway 20 between Buford Highway and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and adding an enhanced sidewalk along the southern side. Together, the projects are intended to make it possible to reach downtown Sugar Hill on foot without navigating the highway entirely at street level. Sugar Hill construction update

9. Failing Wall Near Peachtree Corners Townhomes Goes Before Council

Peachtree Corners City Council will hold a July 28 public hearing on a request connected with a failing timber retaining wall at the Medlock Pointe community on Medlock Bridge Road. The application says the approximately 20-year-old wall is threatening the structural integrity of a building containing five townhomes. The homeowners association wants to remove the wall and replace it with a graded soil slope inside an established construction buffer. The work could require 25 to 35 truckloads of fill and the removal of approximately 13 trees. Questions remain about engineering safety, stormwater control and protections for residents during construction. Peachtree Corners land-use case

10. Thirty-Two Townhomes Proposed on Plunketts Road

A proposal to build 32 townhomes on 3.46 acres at 1494 Plunketts Road is scheduled to return to Gwinnett County commissioners July 28. The applicant is seeking to replace the property’s single-family R-100 zoning with townhouse zoning, producing a density of more than nine homes per acre. Planning staff has recommended approval with conditions, but the case has been delayed several times. The next hearing should show whether concerns involving traffic, stormwater, road access and the transition to surrounding detached homes have produced meaningful changes to the plan. Gwinnett County case information