Georgia

[afguy]

GDOT had their weekly monthly meeting today. At their meeting a large amount of bridge projects were added to the construction list for letting next month. Here's a listing of the projects...

1.P.I. No. 0013929, Bibb County, I-75 @ SR 87/US 23 in Macon —
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 2
Action: Addition to the Program

2. P.I. No. 0013921 Bibb County, II-475 @ CR 742/Tucker Road 2 miles west of Macon —
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 2 & 8
Action: Addition to the Program
3. P.I. No. 0013926, Muscogee County, SR 85/US 27 ALT @ CR 1660/Miller Road in Columbus—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 2
Action: Addition to the Program

4. P.I. No. 0013928, Spalding County, SR 16 @ Flint River 8 miles west of Griffin —
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 3
Action: Addition to the Program

5. P.I. No. 0013922, Hall County, I-985 @ CS 991/Elachee Road in Gainesville —
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 9
Action: Addition to the Program

6. P.I. No. 0013923, Jackson County, I-85 @ CR 250/Plainview Road 5.6 miles North of Jefferson —
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 9

7. P.I. No. 0013925, McDuffie County, SR 10 @ Sweetwater Creek 3.6 miles SE of Thomson —
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 10
Action: Addition to the Program

8. P.I. No. 0013924, Laurens County, SR 26 @ Indian Branch 5.2 miles SE of Brewton —
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 12
Action: Addition to the Program

9. P.I. No. 0013927, Richmond County, SR 4/US 25 @ Savannah River at South Carolina State Line —
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 12
Action: Addition to the Program

P.I. No. 0013935, Banks County, SR 15/US 441 4.8 MI SE of Homer —
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 9
Action: Addition to the Program

2. P.I. No. 0013936, Carroll County, SR 100 at Turkey Creek 2 MI N of Bowdon—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 3
Action: Addition to the Program

3. P.I. No. 0013937, Floyd County, SR 1/US 27 at Big Dry Creek in Rome—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 14
Action: Addition to the Program

4. P.I. No. 0013938 Franklin County, SR 59 at Middle Fork Broad River 1.7 MI SW of Carnesville—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 9
Action: Addition to the Program

5. P.I. No. 0013939, Franklin County, SR 59 at Stephens Creek in Carnesville—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 2
Action: Addition to the Program

6. P.I. No. 0013940, Muscogee County, SR 22/US 80 at Kendall Creek in Columbus —
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 2
Action: Addition to the Program

P.I. No. 0013941, Troup County, SR 1 at Flat Shoals Creek 8 MI SE of LaGrange—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 3
Action: Addition to the Program

8. P.I. No. 0013942, Troup County, SR 1/US 27 at Long Cane Creek 3.5 MI SE of LaGrange—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 3
Action: Addition to the Program

9. P.I. No. 0013943, Walker County, SR 1/US 27 at West Chickamauga Creek—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 14
Action: Addition to the Program

10. P.I. No. 0013944, Wayne County, SR 169 at Goose Creek 4 MI N of Jesup—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 1
Action: Addition to the Program

11. P.I. No. 0013945, Wilkinson County, SR 57 at Kaolin Pipe Line 1.8 MI S of Gordon—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 8
Action: Addition to the Program

12. P.I. No. 0013960, Meriwether County, CR 285/Dan Stribling Road at CSX #639372l 3.5 MI S of Gay—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 3
Action: Addition to the Program

13. P.I. No. 0013990, Dawson County, SR 136 at Toto Creek 7.6 MI SE of Dawsonville—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 9
Action: Addition to the Program

14. P.I. No. 0013991 DeKalb County, SR 42 at S Fork Peachtree Creek 3.35 MI NW of Decatur—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 5
Action: Addition to the Program

15. P.I. No. 0013992, Dougherty County, SR 520 BU at Flint River in Albany—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 2
Action: Addition to the Program

16. P.I. No. 0013993, Glynn County, SR 32 at Little Buffalo Creek 3 MI W of SR 27—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 1
Action: Addition to the Program

17. P.I. No. 0013994, Gordon County, SR 136 at Coosawattee River 5 MI E of Nickelsville—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 14
Action: Addition to the Program

18. P.I. No. 0013995, Henry County, SR 42 at NS #718418R 5 MI S of McDonough—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 3
Action: Addition to the Program

19. P.I. No. 0013996, Madison County, SR 8 at South Fork Broad River—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 9
Action: Addition to the Program

20. P.I. No. 0013937 Madison County, SR 281 at Broad River 8 MI N of Comer—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 9
Action: Addition to the Program

21. P.I. No. 0013998, Oconee and Walton County, SR 186 at Apalachee River—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 10
Action: Addition to the Program

22. P.I. No. 0013999, Troup County, SR 18 EB and WB at Long Cane Creek in West Point—
Bridge Replacement in Congressional District 3
Action: Addition to the Program

http://www.dot.ga.gov/AboutGeorgia/Board/Presentations/December2015Letting.pdf

[afguy]

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. In my spare time today, I found some more project diagrams at GDOT's website. The projects highlighted are the I-85/SR 18 roundabout project, South Tifton Bypass and Effingham Pkwy.

I-85/SR 18 Interchange Project-Troup County
I-85/S.R. 18 Interchange Roundabout Project-Troup County by brandon walker, on Flickr
Beginning in 2017, GDOT plans to convert the existing diamond interchange at I-85/S.R. 18 into an interchange that will feature a roundabout at each end of the interchange.

South Tifton Bypass-Tift County
South Tifton Bypass-Tift County by brandon walker, on Flickr
This a diagram of what the South Tifton Bypass will look like. This 9.1 mile long road will begin at the intersection of SR 520/US 82 and Carpenter
Road, west of the City of Tifton, and would end at the intersection of SR 35/US 319 and New River Church Road, east of the City of Tifton.
The bypass will consist of a two-lane facility with variable turn
lanes. The section between Tech Drive, just west of I-75, and Vernon Drive/Magnolia Industrial Boulevard, east of US 41, would consist of a four-lane facility because of the higher existing traffic volumes on this section. The proposed bypass would utilize both rural design with grassed shoulders and drainage ditches and urban design with curb-and-gutter and closed drainage systems.

South Tifton Bypass I-75 Interchange-Tift County by brandon walker, on Flickr
This diagram shows what the reconstructed Southwell Blvd interchange with I-75 will look like. Southwell Blvd is one of the roads that will be used as part of the 9.1 mile long South Tifton Bypass. Construction should begin in 2019.

Effingham Parkway-Effingham County
Effingham Pkwy-Effingham County by brandon walker, on Flickr
The Effingham Pkwy will consist of constructing a two-lane new location roadway from SR 30 to Blue Jay Road. The project would begin at SR 30 approximately 1.5 miles west of SR 21 and be located across from Chatham County's proposed Benton Boulevard Extension project. The end of the project would terminate at Blue Jay Road, approximately 3.2 miles west of SR 21. The intersection of Effingham Parkway at Blue Jay Road  would be realigned to have Effingham Parkway tie into the east side of Blue Jay Road and the west side of Blue Jay Road would form a T-intersection with Effingham Parkway. The typical section is proposed to have 12-foot lanes with 10-foot outside shoulders (including 6.5-foot paved) on an 80-foot right-of-way. Right-turn and left-turn lanes would be provided at the intersections of SR 30, Goshen Road and Blue Jay Road. The total length of the project is approximately 6.36 miles.  No construction date has been set.

[afguy]

GDOT is having a public meeting Monday on whether to build a bypass around the town of Bishop in Oconee County or widen U.S. 441 through the heart of the town. Personally, I prefer the bypass.

Proposals for the widening project include a bypass around Bishop as an alternative to widening the highway through the middle of town, where many businesses and homes are situated close to the route. A bypass, on the other hand, could cut through or near residential areas on the western side of the town and century-old family farms on the other side of the community.
Monday's public meeting is scheduled to run from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Community Center in Oconee Veterans Park at 3500 Hog Mountain Road. The Madison Athens-Clarke Oconee Regional Transportation Study, a transportation planning group, has also scheduled public hearings on the widening project in Madison County on Thursday and in Athens on Dec. 7.
Either through Bishop or around it, the project would be a big change for the town of about 230 people. A bypass could carry traffic away from the town's small businesses, while widening the road through Bishop would cut the town in two and require moving or demolishing historic buildings.

http://onlineathens.com/mobile/2015-11-28/hearing-monday-proposed-highway-bypass-around-oconee-county-town-bishop

[afguy]

GDOT has awarded another contract for widening GA 133....

he four-laning of State Highway 133 linking Albany and Valdosta is moving a little closer to reality with a recent contract award by the Georgia Department of Transportation.

#The latest award covers 7.9 miles in Colquitt County from the Old Berlin Road to Hawthrone Road. The $28.7 million contract was awarded to Reames and Son Construction Company, Inc. of Valdosta. The expected completion date is June 30, 2018.

#This is the third of nine Georgia DOT projects planned to four-lane Highway 133 between Albany and Valdosta. All three so far have been linking Moultrie and Valdosta. Leaders in Albany view the route as significant for economic growth and to Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany. The entire route will be switched from two lanes to four lanes due to its inclusion in the Governor's Road Improvement program.

#"Improvements consist of widening the existing two lane State route 133 to a four-lane roadway with turn lanes as needed,"  said Nita Birmingham, spokesperson for the GDOT district office in Tifton. "The roadway median type of the typical section was revised to a five-lane flush median through the City of Berlin and Eastern Moultrie with a 14 foot two way center turn lane and a 10 foot rural shoulder."

#The two earlier bids lettings covered slightly more than 11 miles of four-lane improvements in Colquitt and Brooks counties

http://www.albanyherald.com/news/2015/nov/29/contract-adds-another-link-to-highway-133/

[afguy]

Exit 66 on I-75 is closed for reconstruction....
http://wfxl.com/news/local/exit-66-closing-for-construction

[afguy]

With today's passage of the federal transportation bill, Governor Deal is planning to release a list of new projects that will be announced when the general assembly meets in January. Definitely looking forward to see what is planned...

On a brighter note, the governor went into a little more detail about new transportation projects he had hinted were coming in his address to the Council for Quality Growth. The project list will include all the regions within the state. "I anticipate having a map of the entire state of Georgia,"  Deal said, that will "show all of the projects both in the metro as well as those that are outside the metro region that are going to be done with the extra money."

One reason that money will be available for new transportation projects is because the federal government will have passed a long range transportation funding bill. President Obama is expected to sign the measure today. The federal money the state will receive can be used for some of the maintenance and repair projects that were originally planned to be paid for with money from the state's 2015 Transportation Funding Act. That allows state dollars to be used for new projects that will cost less than if they were constructed with federal dollars.

Pleased to see a longer transportation bill at the federal level, Governor Deal said, "I wait to see what all the details of that might include, but that's an indication that at least Congress understands the importance of the transportation bill and the funding that's necessary for keeping our infrastructure in place."

The governor didn't indicate the size and scope of the project list, but said he had seen a proposed list. His opinion? "I think its going to probably be the biggest visible evidence of tax reform and the results of it that we have seen in this state in a very very long time."

http://www.peachpundit.com/2015/12/04/gov-deal-is-concerned-about-new-syrian-refugees-enthusiastic-about-proposed-transportation-projects/

[afguy]

Work continues on the DDI at I-85 and Jimmy Carter....
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/construction-continues-near-jimmy-carter-bridge/npdmN/

[afguy]

I still wish the GA 20 upgrades would have included limited-access options. But I guess this is better than nothing...

"This project is a perfect example of the positive impact that using state funds has over federal funding for projects such as this,"  Georgia Commissioner of Transportation Russell McMurry said. "We are thankful to the governor and the legislature for their support of reduced dependency on federal funding to address Georgia's transportation needs."
With the backing of Gov. Nathan Deal, the General Assembly passed a $900 million transportation funding bill last spring.
The legislation replaced the state sales tax on motor fuels with an excise tax of 26 cents per gallon on gasoline and 29 cents a gallon on diesel. It also imposed a user fee of $200 a year on non-commercial electric vehicles, levied a road impact fee of up to $100 a year on heavy trucks and created a statewide hotel-motel tax of $5 per night.

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/blog/capitol_vision/2015/12/state-funding-secured-for-widening-georgia-20.html

[lordsutch]

So rather than use the new funds for a 90-10 or 80-20 federal match and stretching them out, we're going to blow all the state funds at once on a few projects. GDOT should have checked with TDOT about how doing that with SR 840 blew the budget for doing anything else substantial for a decade.

[afguy]

The Encore Parkway bridge over GA 400 will be closing next year for roadwork...

If you use the Encore Parkway bridge over Ga. 400 in Alpharetta, better start making other plans. It'll be closed next year from January to November as part of a road improvement project.

The North Fulton Community Improvement District, city of Alpharetta and state road and transportation officials are teaming up to widen a seven-tenths-of-a-mile stretch of Encore between Westside and Northpoint parkways. As part of that, the bridge is being demolished, replaced and upgraded to accommodate any future Ga. 400 widening.

The $12 million project will also include wider 14-foot travel lanes, bike lanes, sidewalks, landscaped buffers and a raised, landscaped median. The approximately 18-month upgrade process started earlier this fall and is set to finish up in 2017.

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/alpharetta-bridge-closing-next-year-for-roadwork/npfRZ/

Rendering of new bridge...
Encore Parkway Bridge-Alpharetta by brandon walker, on Flickr

[Georgia]

I dont get the 14 foot lanes, I thought 12 was a standard width.

[Big John]

I dont get the 14 foot lanes, I thought 12 was a standard width.

The existing road is 1 lane in each direction.  If that remains the case after construction (the article doesn't say), a 14' single lane could be justified to allow pulling over into the bike lane lane and allowing vehicles to overtake a distressed vehicle or an emergency vehicle to pass you.

[2Co5_14]

So rather than use the new funds for a 90-10 or 80-20 federal match and stretching them out, we're going to blow all the state funds at once on a few projects. GDOT should have checked with TDOT about how doing that with SR 840 blew the budget for doing anything else substantial for a decade.

As the previous article states, the whole reason for using state funds for just a few projects is to speed up the lengthy environmental process.  If the money was spread out more, that would still require federal funding along with the federal environmental rules.

From personal experience, a project I'm currently working on was just changed to all state funding, a move that shaved about 2 years off the schedule.

[afguy]

The team has been selected to rebuild the GA400/I-285 interchange.

The state transportation board on Thursday morning has selected a preferred team to design, build and partially finance the I-285/Ga. 400 interchange, which is expected to bring relief to one of the most heavily traveled corridors in the nation.

North Perimeter Contractors won the bid at $460 million, which brings the revised total for the project to $679 million. The team is a partnership between contractor Ferrovial Agroman US Corp and engineering firms The Louis Berger Group and Neel-Shaffer.

The price tag makes the reconstruction of the interchange one of the most – but not the most – expensive road project in state history.

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/transportation/team-selected-to-build-ga-400i-285-interchange/npgb9/

[afguy]

GDOT is seeking $6.9 billion to finish the GRIP highways. GDOT wants to widen all of U.S. 280, SR 32 in North Georgia and finish widening U.S. 441, SR 17, SR 72 and U.S. 1.
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2015/12/11/state-dot-wants-6-9-billion-to-finish-rural.html

[mariethefoxy]

sorry if this was covered already, but I was in Atlanta recently after not being there for 9 years, since when do they use the regular FHWA Series E font vs the narrower Series D they used to use and when did they stop using the full width exit tabs?

[Tom958]

sorry if this was covered already, but I was in Atlanta recently after not being there for 9 years, since when do they use the regular FHWA Series E font vs the narrower Series D they used to use and when did they stop using the full width exit tabs?

IIRC, we decided that it started on 2010, though it didn't really start going crazy until 2014. This spot is the first place I recall seeing the new skool signage, and the streetview from 2011 has it.

[mariethefoxy]

they had a bunch of it on I-285

[afguy]

The 2014 version of the metro Atlanta region's future spending plan for road, bridge and transit system improvements called for about $79 billion in spending through the year 2040. But the outlook is far rosier today, thanks to the infusion of close to a billion more dollars per year from HB 170, the bill that raised the gas tax and imposed new fees on hotel motel stays, as well as electric vehicles and heavy trucks.

Now we can expect to see $86.1 billion in investment over the same time period, according to the most recent version of the Atlanta Regional Commission's Plan 2040.

And that doesn't include the added funds from HB 170, which ARC officials estimate will range between $10-15 billion over the 24-year period.

The $7 billion boost reflects an increase in transportation funds available from additional tax revenue from a stronger economy and from the additional income from the MARTA one-percent sales tax in Clayton County, said Jim Jaquish, a spokesman for the ARC.

Here's how the money in the new plan breaks down:

Construction of managed toll lanes (114 miles): $6.9 billion
Major roadway and intersection improvements: $9.8 billion
Potential transit expansion projects: $12 billion
Transit operations and maintenance: $30.7 billion
Road maintenance, operations and safety: $24.3 billion
Bicycle/Pedestrian facilities: $1.9 billion
Management of demand on the network (promoting carpooling, telecommuting and other commute alternatives): $0.5 billion
The plan is available for review online at www.atlantaregionsplan.com. Comments are being accepted through Jan. 15. The ARC board is expected to adopt The Atlanta Region's Plan early next year, after public feedback is incorporated.

http://commuting.blog.ajc.com/2015/12/16/transportation-spending-gets-7-billion-boost/

[xcellntbuy]

Updated information on another 3.5-mile section of the Fall Line Freeway.  There may be delays due to the recent cold.  It has dipped below freezing twice, of late.

http://www.unionrecorder.com/news/possible-delays-for-phase-of-fall-line-opening/article_2fc43686-a5e5-11e5-8c68-87018331fb14.html

[Tom958]

Updated information on another 3.5-mile section of the Fall Line Freeway.  There may be delays due to the recent cold.  It has dipped below freezing twice, of late.

http://www.unionrecorder.com/news/possible-delays-for-phase-of-fall-line-opening/article_2fc43686-a5e5-11e5-8c68-87018331fb14.html

Big, round bent columns.I don't recall seeing that design before:



Something caught my eye when I opened Google Maps on my laptop: GA 316 has been redrawn to reflect current conditions in the construction area as opposed to either the preexisting or ultimate configuration.

[xcellntbuy]

Yes, the concrete columns remind me of the New York State Thruway.

In a related update, the opening of the latest 3.5-mile section of the Fall Line Freeway has been delayed until January 19, 2016.  Instead of normally colder temperatures, it has been very warm with lots of rainfall as far south as Milledgeville. 

[afguy]

GDOT is FINALLY replacing the Oglethorpe Avenue Bridge in Downtown Albany.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal's proposed statewide transportation projects list released recently includes funding for the engineering necessary to start what is expected to be complete replacement of the Oglethorpe Boulevard bridge, one of Albany's most prominent east-west connectors.

City officials have already started talking about plans to reroute traffic during what could realistically be a five- to eight-year process.

"My expectation is that we would work closely with Department of Transportation officials to find the most effective, and time-sensitive, way to complete this project,"  Albany City Manager Sharon Subadan said. "It certainly will have a major impact on traffic into and out of the city."

While Deal's plan allows for engineering funding in 2016 needed to start the planning process for the overhaul of the Oglethorpe bridge, Albany drivers got a taste of what to expect with the replacement of the renamed Broad Avenue Memorial Bridge. That structure, which was condemned in 2009, was finally finished and reopened six years later, on Nov. 11 of this year.

Albany/Dougherty Planning Services Director Paul Forgey, who serves as chairman of the Dougherty Area Regional Transportation Study Coordinating Committee, said that while it is not immediately clear if DOT's plan is to completely replace the Oglethorpe bridge, he would not be surprised if that is the case.

"The last time before their most recent inspection, DOT found that the Oglethorpe bridge was "˜low quality,'"  Forgey said. "There could be a way to structurally repair the bridge without replacing it completely, but everything I've read indicates the bridge needs to be replaced. It's still safe enough to drive on right now, but there appears to be a feeling that that won't last too much longer.

"What I've gathered from the governor's transportation plan is that there will be funding for preliminary engineering in the next year. After that has been completed and approved, construction will follow. I think the general feeling (of DOT officials) is that this bridge needs to be replaced within the next 10 years, so why not do it now?"

http://www.albanyherald.com/news/gdot-funding-allocated-for-oglethorpe-bridge-replacement/article_162ac08b-b0ea-56b2-814d-f6340c780617.html

[Buck87]

Anyone here know how the GA 17 project is going between the Toccoa bypass and I-85? I think it's partially a 4 laning of the existing 2 lane corridor plus a new terrain bypass around Martin.

I've tried searching but can't find much in the way of recent updates.

[afguy]

Here's a link from GDOT that gives an update of the S.R. 17 corridor as of December 2015.
http://www.dot.ga.gov/BuildSmart/programs/documents/GRIP/Facts/US1SR17FactSheet.pdf

BTW, GDOT has launched a study of the Downtown Connector in Atlanta. Hopefully some practical ideas can come out of this study...
http://www.dot.ga.gov/BS/Studies/DowntownConnector