DALTON, Ga. — Contractors have wrapped up an initial round of road resurfacing in Whitfield County and a sidewalk project paid for with special purpose sales tax funds.

The sidewalk and curbing projects improved safety and convenience along Dalton’s East Morris Street, from Easterling Street to Fifth Avenue, according to Brooke Bennett, Whitfield County communications director.

Northwest Georgia Paving Co. worked for two months on the project, which was funded by the special purpose local option sales tax.

Whitfield County voters approved the 1 percent sales tax for road projects in September 2007, and officials expect the levy to raise $48 million over the next three years.

Ms. Bennett said the street posed several problems for motorists and pedestrians, such as poor drainage and a lack of areas to walk.

Elda Ramirez, whose husband owns V&A Tires on East Morris Street, said she’s happy with the new walkways.

“They wanted the sidewalks to look good for people and for people to be able to walk safely,” she said.

Whitfield County Administrator Bob McLeod said the SPLOST funds will smooth out many of the road and sidewalk problems in Dalton and the county.

“I’m very pleased with the progress being made on many transportation SPLOST projects,” he said. “Sidewalk projects are always important safety measures to separate pedestrians from cars. We want to keep everyone as safe as possible.”

Workers also have wrapped up two other SPLOST-funded projects.

Contractor C.W. Matthews resurfaced nearly 13 miles on 17 county roads, including 2.8 miles of Old Dixie Highway and 1.3 miles of Chattanooga Road. The Whitfield County Public Works Department resurfaced 15 miles on 18 county roads, including Dawnville Road from Cleveland Highway to state Route 286 and 1.6 miles of Lower Dug Gap Road.

Next, Ms. Bennett said, will be resurfacing on 32 Dalton streets, totaling 5.6 miles. Bidding on that project opens Oct. 24.

Final plans are complete on five other SPLOST-funded projects, meaning the county knows how much right-of-way will be needed and what the boundaries are, Ms. Bennett said.

Right-of-way acquisition is under way for intersection improvement projects at Burgess Road and Elton Drive; Burgess Road and Tibbs Bridge Road; and Tibbs Bridge Road and Keith Mill Road.

“Final plans are also complete on Hurricane Road and Rauschenberg Road, which are horizontal alignment and drainage improvement projects,” Ms. Bennett said, adding that the purchase of right-of-way soon will begin there.

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