Mudslides may close Sandy Springs road for a year

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A hazardous situation along a busy north Fulton County road could mean a year-long detour for thousands of commuters.

Road crews closed Lake Forrest Drive between Lake Summit and Chevaux Court in Sandy Springs on Monday.

Testing showed a large wall bordering the street is no longer stable enough to hold and is more compromised than officials originally thought.

The city of Sandy Springs now plans to build a large concrete wall to catch rubble as it falls however it could take up to a year.

Residents have reported eight mud slides in the area over the last 12 months.

"Obviously with the amount rainfall we have been having we thought there were some potential issues for more slides in this area," Public Works Director Garrin Coleman told Channel 2 Action News.

The detour presents a long term headache for some 5,500 drivers who use that stretch of road every day. Southbound drivers now have to use Northwood Drive to get to Roswell Road.  Northbound drivers have been told to use Mount Paran Road.

City officials said the wall is estimated to cost about $1 million.

WSBTV