441
59
75
GEORGIA STATE EDITION
Cornella 19
A Supplement to:
Rome 85 27
Athens 441
Atlanta
20
Madison Augusta
85
20
Griffin 1
129
Milledgeville
75
La Grange
Macon
301
185 19
16
Dublin
Swainsboro Oak Park
Columbus
Statesboro
341 441 16
Lyons Americus
March 21 2012
Dorchester
341
Cuthbert
75
Albany
84
Douglas Tifton
82
95
82
Blakely
Pearson
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301
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82
Vol. XXIII • No. 6
Savannah
McRae Cordele
27
27 84
Moultrie
19 319
Bainbridge
84
Valdosta Thomasville
Waycross Brunswick 82
1 441
Your Georgia Connection: Rich Olivier, Atlanta, GA • 1-800-409-1479
GRIP Project Adds Capacity, Operational Safety to Road By Cindy Riley CEG CORRESPONDENT
Construction that will create four new bridges as part of a major overhaul is well under way on the Appling County border in Georgia. “This program is 9.091 miles of widening and reconstruction on U.S.1, Bacon County line to SR 15,” explained Jill Nagel, communications officer, Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). “GDOT’s contractor, McLendon Enterprises Inc. of Vidalia, Ga., is continuing with Stage 2 construction clearing, installing BMP’s, grading, pipe work, asphalt, culvert and bridge construction.” US 1/S.R. 4 is part of the Governor’s
Photos courtesy of GDOT
Work on the roughly $31 million project began in January 2010 and may not be completed until early 2013. At right, the project is currently into the final phase of earthwork, which precedes the base and paving and final opening of the roadway. Crews hope to be complete by the end of this year. Because of the flat terrain, rain can be very detrimental to the project.
Road Improvement Program (GRIP), and is considered an economic growth corridor. The project will add capacity and increase operational safety. The two existing bridges were replaced due to age and substandard width. The project will add two new bridges for the additional lanes. Work on the roughly $31 million project began in January 2010 and may not be completed until early 2013. According to GDOT, there have been no significant issues as far as weather and no traffic issues have accrued, due to staging and traffic control. As the prime contractor, McLendon is responsible for traffic control, erosion control and general job management and communication with the GDOT. “We are clearing, performing all earthwork, storm drain installation, water main installation, sewer main and force main installation,” explained Project Engineer Sean Scott. “We are currently into the final phase of earthwork, which precedes the base and paving and final opening of the roadway. We hope to be complete by the end of this year. Because of the flat terrain, rain can be very detrimental to our work activities. Overall, weather has been pretty agreeable,” Scott said. see GRIP page 2
Report Details Plans for New Ga. to Miss. Highway MACON, Ga. (AP) A federal report details plans for a possible new interstate highway that would move traffic from Augusta through central Georgia and Alabama to Natchez, Miss. The report on the proposed 14th Amendment Highway was obtained by The Telegraph newspaper of Macon under the Freedom of Information Act. In Georgia, one proposal calls for the interstate cutting through an area just south of Macon.
No funding for the federal route has been identified. The Federal Highway Administration launched the study to meet a congressional mandate. The report said the new interstate would be more than 600 mi., linking Augusta and Natchez with three other metro areas: Montgomery in Alabama, and Columbus and Macon in Georgia. “Although several major Interstate highways pass through the corridor, they are all generally oriented in a
north-south direction,” the report states. “There is no single designated east-west Interstate or other major highway that directly connects all five cities.” The 14th Amendment Highway study examined five options for a new route from Augusta to Natchez. The options ranged from about $296 million to $7.7 billion. Experts say that even if the new highway is never built, its ideas will likely affect other transportation plans.