Atlanta — Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) has awarded 55 contracts for statewide construction and maintenance projects totaling over $171.3 million. These projects were advertised for bids in May, bids were received in June and contracts were awarded on July 1.
Georgia DOT’s first obligation with funds resulting from Georgia’s Transportation Funding Act (TFA) is to maintain and improve existing infrastructure. This month, bridge replacements represent a significant investment with $72.6 million in eight awarded contracts.
These include the replacement of 25 local bridges – valued at over $39.6 million — awarded through a new bridge delivery process. The process, known as “bridge bundles,” used five design-build (DB) bundled contracts that group bridges geographically and allow the contractor to efficiently streamline delivery by combining design and construction for the bridges in their bundled contract.
Other bridge replacements include SR 43 over Little River in Lincoln and McDuffie counties, valued at $14.8 million; two bridges on SR 26 over the Ocmulgee River, valued at $15.2 million; and three bridges in Laurens County, valued at almost $4 million.
“Design-build bridge bundles are an innovative way to replace Georgia’s aging local bridges while maximizing the state’s investment in a timely manner,” said Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry, P.E. “I am excited to make this investment in local communities. These bridges are critical for emergency vehicles, school buses and general freight movement.”
Over 21 percent of the total awards – about $36.8 million – are for 20 road resurfacing and maintenance projects across the state. They range from a nine-mile resurfacing on US 41/SR 3 in Cobb County, valued at just over $6 million; to 14 miles on SR 14 in Troup County, valued at $4.9 million; to a 1.6-mile surface treatment on SR 137 Spur in Marion County, valued at just over $123,000.
In June, the largest investments are major mobility improvement projects in west central and northeast Georgia. In Muscogee County, a contract valued at $29.4 million was awarded for two miles of construction and widening for additional lanes on SR 982 (Talbotton Road/Warm Springs Road). To enhance pedestrian safety, the project also includes the addition of a 5-foot sidewalk on both sides of the road in residential areas and on one side of the road in other locations. In Gwinnett and Hall counties, a contract valued at $16.3 million was awarded for a 1.7-mile widening and reconstruction of SR 13 (Buford Highway).
Safety improvement contracts totaling almost $15 million were also awarded. These include over $9 million in guardrail replacements on state roadways; $3.5 million in signing and striping upgrades on local roads; and $2.2 million in traffic signal upgrades at locations in Jackson County in northeast Georgia.
