A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the fast-tracked, community-focused project
Gateway85 Community Improvement District (CID) and Gwinnett County officials celebrated a key milestone in pedestrian infrastructure with a ribbon-cutting event on May 29 at the Gateway85 CID office in Norcross for the newly completed Crescent Drive sidewalk.
The project underscores the power of public-private partnerships and the dedication of Gwinnett County to enhancing safety, mobility and economic opportunity through thoughtful infrastructure investments.
Completed entirely by the Gwinnett County Department of Transportation (DOT) in just three months, and funded through the County’s SPLOST program, the 3,500-foot sidewalk provides a critical connection between Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Nancy Hanks Drive.
“This project is a prime example of what we can accomplish when we work together — the county, the cities and our local community improvement districts,” said Gwinnett County Commissioner Kirkland Carden.
“Sidewalks are about more than safety; they are about economic health. Providing safe access to local businesses like Olé Mexican Foods helps strengthen our community and support local jobs.”
A benefit to the community
The sidewalk has already proven invaluable for Olé Mexican Foods, one of Gateway85’s largest employers. With more than 1,400 employees across three shifts, many of whom rely on walking or public transit, the new connection has made a tangible difference.
“I see my employees taking walks on the sidewalk every day,” said Eduardo Moreno Jr., president of procurement and manufacturing services of Olé Mexican Foods. “It makes the facility look better, feel safer and helps attract people to want to be part of our company.”
An ongoing collaboration
The project highlights a long-standing collaboration between Gateway85 CID and Gwinnett DOT that has delivered numerous improvements to the area — from sidewalk installations along Graves Road and Dawson Boulevard to transformative intersection upgrades like the Diverging Diamond Interchange at Jimmy Carter Boulevard and I-85.
“You can’t drive through the Gateway85 district without seeing the results of our partnership,” said Lewis Cooksey, director of Gwinnett County DOT. “These sidewalks give residents and employees a safe, reliable way to get where they need to go — whether that’s work, the grocery store or home. And we’re not done yet.”
Gateway85 CID Executive Director Emory Morsberger praised the county’s responsiveness and vision: “This is what real partnership looks like — trust, follow-through and a shared commitment to doing what’s right for the community.”
