There may be a light at the end of the tunnel for the long-lived widening of I-85 through Coweta County. The Georgia Dept. of Transportation (GDOT) earlier this week announced its summer construction efforts, including the anticipated completion date of July 31 for three large Coweta road projects.
“The warm dry days of summer are a signal to many that it is time to hit the roadways for vacation destinations north, south, east and west,” said GDOT spokesperson Crystal Paulk-Buchanan. “But instead of taking a break, Georgia Department of Transportation road crews are gearing up for the busiest time of the year, the construction season. There are a number of road construction and maintenance projects scheduled in the next few months and Georgia DOT wants to make sure commuters and vacationers can get to their Southeastern destinations with the least amount of delays and aggravation.”
Paulk-Buchanan said many of the projects will require lane closures and likely result in traffic delays on interstate and state highways across Georgia.
The Department will attempt to minimize the impact on motorists by restricting most lane closures to nights and weekends.
That having been said, here is how things shake out for construction work that will soon begin and, hopefully, end later this summer.
*I-85 between Forrest Road and Ga. Highway 34 (Bullsboro Drive)
Counties: Meriwether and Coweta
Location: I-85 beginning at Mile Post 33 (Forrest Road) and continuing to Hwy. 34 (Bullsboro Drive)
Brief Description: 14.33 miles of widening for additional lanes on I-85/ Hwy. 403 and includes reconstruction of 17 bridges; CCTV and Video Detection Systems are included.
Contract Amount: $218.02 million
Start date: Winter 2007
Anticipated Completion: Summer 2010 (July 31)
*I-85 near SR 34 (Bullsboro Drive) to the Fulton County line
Counties: Coweta
Location: I-85 beginning near Mile Post 47 (Hwy. 34) in Coweta County and continues to the Fulton County Line
Brief Description: 9.705 mile widening for additional lanes, paving and shoulder reconstruction on I-85/Hwy. 403 beginning at Hwy. 34 (Bullsboro Drive) and extending to the Fulton County line
Contract Amount: $107.4 million
Start date: Fall 2006
Anticipated Completion: Summer 2010 (July 31)
*I-85 between Collingsworth Road to Hwy. 74 (Exit 61)
Counties: Coweta and Fulton
Location: I-85 from Collingsworth Road (Exit 56) to Hwy. 74/Senoia Road (Exit 61 in Fulton County)
Brief Description: 4.045 miles of widening for additional lanes, paving and shoulder reconstruction
Contract Amount: $51.3 million
Start date: Winter 2007
Anticipated Completion: Summer 2010 (July 31)
Paulk-Buchanan said interstate work will be suspended during the July 4th and Labor Day holiday weekends.
Motorists are urged to obey posted, reduced construction zone speed limits; avoid unnecessary lane changes; allow extra distance between themselves and the vehicle ahead; and to exercise extreme caution while driving through these work zones.
Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about this or any other construction project on interstates and state routes. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, and delays due to inclement weather. Callers also can transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.
