It has been several years in the making, and it was on Oct. 18 with blue skies overhead that the spillway on the south side of Lake Peachtree dedicated.
Above, a large number of city, county, state and federal elected and appointed officials were joined by citizens Oct. 18 for the dedication of the Lake Peachtree spillway in Peachtree City. Photo/Ben Nelms.
“It’s a perfect day for Peachtree City,” said Mayor Vanessa Fleisch, standing near the cart path that leads from the west side of the bridge adjacent to the spillway and connects to the path system across Kelly Drive. “This is a celebration for the city.”
Councilman Mike King agreed, saying, “It was 13 months from the start of construction to the finish, and it’s done. To think of where it was then and where it is now is phenomenal.”
“This will be an icon for the city,” Councilman Phil Prebor added.
Today, the spillway is fully operational, the adjacent bridge complete with “Lake Peachtree” signage is open and the cart path connections and landscaping around the dam and spillway are complete.
Looking back several years, there were endless meetings and discussions on what would be done with the then-aging spillway.
The cost of the spillway was $3.4 million, of which Fayette County contributed $2 million. A portion of the cost was included in the one-percent sales tax (SPLOST) initiative approved by voters in 2017.
The spillway design favored by council members was a three-stage piano key weir (barrier). That design was approved because it fit in the old spillway area, avoided the use of mechanical devices, met Georgia Safe Dams standards and will not increase flooding upstream or downstream during 100-year storms.
The old spillway could handle eight inches of rain in 24 hours. The new spillway will be able to handle the state standard of 18 inches of rain in 12 hours.
The project also included adding a 1.4-foot parapet wall, essentially a berm, to the dam which is situated immediately to the west of the spillway.
In addition, the project included removing the top section of a small peninsular area situated between the dam and spillway to provide for improved inflow to the spillway. The remaining area can now be used as park space.
The new bridge adjacent to the spillway allows for two-way traffic immediately south of the spillway. The bridge is also outfitted with a large, lighted sign denoting “Lake Peachtree.”
Also included in the project was the rerouting of the cart path along Kelly Drive near the old dam and spillway driveway. The cart path on the south side of Kelly Drive was re-routed so that it connects to Kelly Drive near the community garden.
