Working Within Tight Constraints

t the end of 2018, a challenge came up regarding Uppergate Drive a street that became under the jurisdiction of the City of Atlanta when Atlanta annexed Emory University. The street was failing and was getting to the point where a major resurfacing would be needed. The problem was funding and timing. There was pressure from government officials and Emory University to get the road resurfaced. The local news media also did a story that added to the pressure of getting the road resurfaced. The road was a critical link on Emory University’s campus with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta on one side and Winship Cancer Institute on the other. Shutting down the road for an extended period of time was not an option for the University.

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After a few months of waiting on the contract to be written, doing repairs to the road to keep it operable, and meetings with everyone involved, it was

BY ADISA AARONS, CITY OF ATLANTA, METRO ATLANTA PRESIDENT

time for the work to be executed. Since the road was very busy during the week, it was determined that the weekend was the best time for the work to take place.

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It was on a hot Saturday morning in July when the work started. Since we did not know the condition of the road, we anticipated that it would take three weekends to complete the work. Once the milling operation began, we noticed that the base was in good shape, so the contractor and city representative paved the road on Sunday. During our paving operation, the news media came and captured good footage of all of us hard at work repaving the road. When the news story aired the next night, everyone was please and happy that the road was resurfaced.

A few months later, I was diagnosed with colon cancer and had to do my chemotherapy treatments at the Winship Cancer Institute. As I would ride to and from the Cancer Institute, the road being paved made it easier for myself and others who were getting treatment. It was also a great conversation starter with the doctors, nurses, and staff.

When working within tight constraints, always take note of the following: • Always have several ideas of how to get the job done.

Working around a major hospital complex, we had an idea but once we listened to the needs and the challenges of the

University, we were able to come up with a good plan that allowed the road to remain open and allowed us to work at the same time. • Be prepared for the unexpected.

About 50 feet into the milling operation, we discovered a buried water valve. A utility locate was called in advance of the work starting, but not everyone gets out in time before the work starts. Also, the news media showing up was a constraint, but they were able to get a few good shots which made the story go very well. • Have fun. It was very nerveracking working on a university campus due to the multiple constraints. With that being said, if you enjoy your job, you will have fun doing it.

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