TIFTON – The single largest volume construction contract the Georgia Department of Transportation awarded in August went to a project to resurface U.S. 319/state Route 35 in Colquitt and Thomas counties.
Almost half of the $97.6 million in funds awarded statewide is earmarked for projects within Georgia DOT’s Southwest district of 31 counties. In addition to resurfacing, local projects were awarded that will rehabilitate bridges and enhance roadway safety by upgrading pavement markings and improving visibility for drivers. The projects were advertised for bids in June, bids were received in July and contracts were awarded Aug. 5.
“These projects represent a significant investment in Southwest Georgia,” District Engineer Chad Hartley said. “The increase in funding as a result of the Transportation Funding Act has allowed the Department to maintain the public’s transportation assets as well as deliver much-needed projects. I am pleased that the projects awarded in our district will allow us to improve our roads and bridges and meet the growing demands of the traveling public and businesses.”
Many of the projects address maintenance that was previously deferred, such as resurfacing, which represents 60% of awarded funds statewide. “The funds that result from the Transportation Funding Act enable us to address our critical infrastructure, including our pavement,” Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry said. “Our goal is to restore a 15-year resurfacing cycle instead of the 50-year cycle we faced in 2014.”
There is already a lot of resurfacing going on in Southwest Georgia and more is coming. Seven of the 10 projects awarded in this area are for resurfacing:
Colquitt and Thomas counties
· 19.5 miles on U.S. 319/SR 35 from south of Dillon Road in Thomas County to north of SR 33 in Colquitt County, $14.2 million awarded to The Scruggs Co. of Hahira.
Lee County
· 1.8 miles on the U.S. 19/SR 3 Bypass from SR 3 to SR 3 median crossover, $922,000 awarded to Oxford Construction Co. of Albany.
· 5.4 miles on U.S. 82/SR 520 from the Terrell County line to east of Dawson Road, $3.5 million awarded to Reeves Construction Co. of Macon.
Lee and Terrell counties
· 9.5 miles on U.S. 82/SR 520 from east of Tammy Lane to the Lee County line, $5.1 million awarded to Oxford Construction Co.
Mitchell County
· 29.2 miles on SR 3 from the Thomas County line to the Dougherty County line, $7.4 million awarded to Reeves Construction Co.
· 4.2 miles on SR 37 from northwest of Pinecliff Road to east of Bailey Road, $1.6 million awarded to Reeves Construction Co.
Terrell County
· 10.8 miles on U.S. 526/SR 55 from the Calhoun County line to south of U.S. 82/SR 520, $1.4 million awarded to Oxford Construction Co.
The completion date for all resurfacing projects is June 30, 2017.
Another significant Southwest Georgia project will reconstruct median crossovers at 20 locations on U.S. 19/SR 3 in Thomas County to align turn lanes directly across from each other. This improves visibility for drivers turning left and enhances safety. The contract, valued at almost $8.5 million, was awarded to Oxford Construction Co. with a completion date of June 30, 2018.
The locations, starting at the Florida line and going north, are: .58 miles north of the state line, 1 mile north of the state line, 12 Milepost Road, .8 miles north of Milepost Road, Glasgow Road, .26 miles north of Glasgow Road, Reichertville Road, .23 miles north of Reichertville Road, New Hope Road, .38 miles north of New Hope Road, .51 miles north of New Hope Road, Plantation Lane, .33 miles north of Plantation Lane, Osceola Lane, .3 miles north of Osceola Lane, Lower Boston Road, Heatherway Lane, Curtis Lane, .34 miles north of Curtis Lane and Sunset Drive.
A project to upgrade striping and pavement markings on Interstate 75 from south of the Cook/Lowndes county line to south of Exit 59/Southwell Boulevard in Tift County will also enhance safety. Striping and pavement markings communicate important information to drivers, such as the alignment of the road, the width of a lane, where to exit, etc. The $4.2 million contract was awarded to Protection Services Inc. of Conyers and the project completion date is June 30, 2017.
Also awarded this month is a $141,600 contract for bridge rehabilitation with a completion date of March 31, 2017. The locations are SR 122 over Little Creek in Brooks County, SR 38 eastbound over Kirkland Creek in Early County, SR 111 over East Branch Barnetts Creek in Grady County, SR 3 Alternate over Oquina Creek in Thomas County and SR 33 over Town Creek in Worth County. Rehabilitation helps extend the life of bridges.
