West Pike Street Safety Improvements (SR 316-CS 1126) – Project #0013375

FAST FACTS

GDOT Project #0013375 / Gwinnett County DOT Project #M-0905-04
Type: Street Safety Improvements
Project Length: .5 miles
Affected Counties: Gwinnett
Condemning Authority: GDOT
Estimated Affected Parcels: 14
Estimated Cost: $3,213,991
Right-of-Way Funds: $2,604,000

Description

The GDOT proposes safety improvements to 0.5 mile of West Pike Street/Duluth Highway (formerly SR 120) beginning just east of the SR 316 interchange and ending just east of the intersection with Hurricane Shoals Road. The improvements would include:

Widening .5 miles of West Pike Street/Duluth Highway from four to six lanes
A 16.5-foot median that includes back-to-back left turn lanes separated by a 1-foot raised concrete median
Median opening locations along the corridor with left turn lanes at the existing signalized intersections of Medical Center Boulevard, Professional Drive/Philip Boulevard, and Hurricane Shoals Road
Sidewalks along West Pike Street/Duluth Highway (formerly SR 120) along with a minimal amount of curb and gutter

GDOT proposes the project in anticipation of an increase in traffic – it is estimated that the number of drivers will reach 60,000 a day along the roadway.

The Gwinnett County Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation, expects the reconstruction to cost between $3.1 million – $3.2 million. Gwinnett County is using funding from the 2014 SPLOST program for engineering and right of way acquisition. The project is anticipated to take 12 to 18 months to finish.

The project may augment the safety and operation of this .5 miles portion of West Pike Street//Duluth Highway, but property owners on the planned route should be aware of the changes being made and how their properties may be affected by both the process, construction, and resulting traffic patterns.

Business and Homeowner Concerns

When the government decides it needs your property for a project that will benefit the public good, it can legally take some or all of it under the power of eminent domain. The Fifth Amendment requires GDOT to make you an offer of just compensation for your property, but it’s important to remember that the initial offer may be low.

GDOT, like most buyers, is motivated to purchase property as affordably as possible and may not include items, such as relocation expenses and lost business income, in the initial offer. We can help you fight for that compensation!

In some GDOT projects, there may be drainage and utility easements taken, which can be very tricky from a property rights standpoint. Sometimes, there are historic properties, streams and wetlands, and residences and businesses that require context-sensitive solutions to minimize the impact of a project.

Contact us if you believe your property may be affected by GDOT’s plans for this portion of West Pike Street/Duluth Highway, and we can discuss your circumstances.

What to Do if Your Property Is Affected

You have rights even though the government can take your land. GDOT has set aside an estimated $2,604,000 for right-of-way acquisition in FY2021-2022for this project – but there may be surrounding circumstances that could complicate matters. We urge you to consult with an EMD attorney prior to accepting any GDOT offer.

You have the right to fair compensation. Remember: the initial offer is just the beginning – as long as you do not accept it. We can help you fight for more. Call 1-888-391-1339 or contact us as soon as possible for a complimentary case evaluation.

We guarantee our clients that we will not touch the government’s initial offer amount, and we will only take an attorney’s fee if we can increase that starting offer amount. At that point, our fee is calculated as a percentage of the increased amount only. The initial offer amount is 100% yours – we don’t touch it.

And we front the costs of fighting your case. If, for some reason, we are unable to increase the government’s initial offer to you, we absorb those costs – not you. We set up the payment structure this way because we are confident in the experience and know how of our eminent domain team, and we believe that we can help you.

Why? Since we’ve been in business, we’ve tripled our clients’ initial offers on average.¹

News and Publications

None at this time.

Project Maps

Estimated Project Schedule

Per the March 2020 Gwinnett County Department of Transportation 2014 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax Program Road and Safety Alignment document, construction is estimated to begin on this project in 2022 and take 12 to 18 months to finish.

Affected Parcels

An estimated 14 parcels of property will be affected by the roadway project. Those property owners may lose a portion of their properties, or a significant amount of their value. For homeowners and commercial property owners in the path of the project, it is critical to understand that the government’s initial offer is just that – initial. We do not recommend you accept the initial offer.

Get a free case
evaluation today.

There are only a handful of attorneys in GA who practice eminent domain exclusively. And even fewer with DOT experience. That’s why it’s always worth it to get a free case evaluation.

Here’s how it works:

1) Tell us about your situation.

2) We research your property as needed, using DOT maps, our own technology, and experience to see the exact effects.

3) We let you know what we think a fair offer would be. This evaluation is free, and there’s no
pressure or obligation to hire us after.

But please don’t wait to act. Waiting can hurt your case, and the cost is the same: free.

1-888-391-1339

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