Burnette Road Name Change Coming in Suwanee

Some recent progress in Suwanee also means a bit of history will be erased.

Gwinnett County officials confirmed Thursday that the new stretch of road and bridge that extends over I-85 from Satellite Boulevard to Old Peachtree Road formally will be renamed. It now is known as Burnette Road, but will become McGinnis Ferry Road.

Spokesperson Heather Sawyer said that county Planning and Development officials have been mailing letters to property owners in the area to inform them of the change; the county Department of Transportation also has been working on this project. It is not known when the name change will become official. Since the street is in an unincorporated area, Gwinnett County is the naming authority.

Burnette Road is named after one of the oldest families in Suwanee. It extends into other areas in the city, such as the Suwanee Sports Academy, and those stretches of the road are not expected to be renamed. Burnette Elementary School is on the stretch that will be renamed.

The road extension and bridge over the interstate and formally was dedicated by county and state officials this week. It was part of a $20.4 million project that largely was funded by federal stimulus money.

It is the second street-name change associated with the project. Recently, Suwanee officials renamed Gwinco Boulevard to Celebration Drive; this road intersects with the new road extension near the bridge over the interstate.