Current infrastructure projects span the entire municipal footprint. Four major bridges along I-20 are being upgraded, while road repaving, sidewalk additions, and intersection improvements – including new roundabouts and traffic signals – proceed simultaneously.“We are knee deep in many of those infrastructure improvements,” Mayor Cobble says, emphasizing their importance for both current needs and anticipated growth from economic development and tourism initiatives.“It’s important to us that we can get folks on and off the highway easily, that we can get folks to and from work easily. And then of course, those who live here are able to move around the city with ease.” SMART CITY EVOLUTION While many established cities grapple with retrofitting aging infrastructure for the digital age, Stonecrest’s youth offers a distinct technological edge. The city capitalizes on this advantage by integrating cuttingedge technology into its foundational infrastructure. Major utility providers are actively upgrading their systems throughout Stonecrest. “We’ve seen our power companies, both Georgia Power and Snapping EMC, doing a lot of work to make sure they too are prepared for the increase in both housing and business,” Mayor Cobble reports. These franchise fee-paying utilities aren’t just installing fiber; they’re ensuring sufficient bandwidth and broadband capacity to support the city’s ambitious growth plans. The emphasis on technological infrastructure reflects lessons learned during the pandemic about connectivity’s crucial role. “We have to be able to offer a community that has that kind of accessibility and bandwidth,” Mayor Cobble stresses. The city’s vision extends beyond basic connectivity to creating a comprehensive smart city ecosystem. “We want our community in its practices, whether from the constituent side or the business side, to be able to use technology to advance the city in general.” Stonecrest’s recent establishment provides unique opportunities in technological implementation. As Mayor Cobble points out, “We have an opportunity that maybe some cities who have been around a little longer may not have—being able to get on the front end of that technology transition while we 119 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 01 STONECREST, GA
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