Georgia 10, May 19, 2021

State Supplement sponsored by:

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GEORGIA STATE EDITION

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Vol. XXIII • No. 10

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May 19 2021

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By I rwin Rapoport

Since ground was broken in April 2017 on the Georgia Department of Transportation’s (GDOT) I-16/I-75 Improvement Project in Macon, crews from E.R. Snell Contractor Inc. and C.W. Matthews Contracting Company Inc. are making considerable progress to complete the $63 million Phase 1 this summer and Phases 2 and 3 this upcoming winter.

The goal for this massive project is a final delivery in 2030.

“The interchange improvement project will enhance safety and mobility of the interchange by widening and reconstructing I-75 from Hardeman Avenue to Pierce Avenue and I-16 from I-75 to Walnut Creek within the city of Macon and Macon-Bibb County,” said GDOT’s Penny Brooks, District 3 communication officer. “The investment in the city, the middle Georgia region and the

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Phase 2 deals with 1.02 mi. improvements along I-75 NB from Hardeman Avenue to the southern limit of the I-16 interchange, which has E.R. Snell shifting the exit to I-16 EB southwards, constructing a new ramp to I-16 EB parallel to the I-75 NB mainline.

see INTERCHANGE page 4

Page 2 • May 19, 2021 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Georgia State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Atlanta, GA 404.696.7210 Birmingham, AL 205.841.6666 Madison, AL 256.350.0006 Mobile, AL 251.633.4020 Montgomery, AL 334.262.6642 Oxford, AL 256.832.5053 Tuscaloosa, AL 205.848.4147 Pensacola, FL 850.479.3004

Construction Equipment Guide • Georgia State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • May 19, 2021 • Page 3

Page 4 • May 19, 2021 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Georgia State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Challenges Include High Volume of Utility Relocation ing streets,” he added. “It’s very tight, and we also have to be aware of and protect the many, closely-packed environmental, archeological, and historic resources as well. We have a good overall working relationship with the GC and issues are usually resolved immediately when we put our minds together and work towards a common goal.”

The Spring Street loop ramp was closed in January 2019.

“We had to first safely relocate traffic onto a detoured temporary ramp,” said Coody, “while also retrofitting and configuring the existing traffic signal to be utilized in the staged construction.”

INTERCHANGE from page 1

state’s transportation system will support Georgia’s growing freight and logistics industry. It is improving I-16 and I-75 in the project area by constructing additional interstate lanes, wider shoulder lanes and additional on- and off-ramps.

“A new collector/distributor [CD] road system will be constructed parallel to both I-16 and I-75, which will allow additional non-interstate traffic capacity,” she added.

“Modifications will be made to bridges and surface streets to accommodate the additional interstate and CD lanes. These surface street improvements will add or expand dedicated turn lanes, which will reduce congestion and improve mobility for commuter traffic.”

Project Challenges “One engineering challenge that’s been encountered and overcome on this project is the staged construction, since there isn’t much room to work,” said James Coody, GDOT’s project manager of the Interstate 75/Interstate 16 Improvements Project. “We’re expecting at least a 100-year lifespan for the new infrastructure being built. We are utilizing drilled caissons with mass concrete for the bridge foundations located in the river. This design helps maximize construction by allowing more environmentally friendly construction activities to take place in the river, without detrimentally affecting the adjacent ecosystems.”

The traffic management plan is based on temporary and long-term lane and ramp closures to ensure that construction crews can work safely in midst of live traffic.

“The plan is working well,” said Brooks. “The majority of people are slowing down, but there are always the few that don’t. We’re always striving to work together to safely implement the [construction] plan and any logistical problems that may arise during construction.”

C.W. Matthews is months away from completing Phase 1, an initiative that is improving approximately 1.5 mi. of I-16 EB between I-75 and Coliseum Drive. Construction started in 2017 with main elements being operational improvements

Key equipment for this work includes a Kobelco CK1100G crane, a Komatsu PC 210 LC excavator and a Manitowoc 4100W crane.

to I-16 WB at the Spring Street interchange that are eliminating the existing weave and improving safety on I-16 EB between I-75 and Spring Street with the closure of the Spring Street loop ramp and construction of the I-16 EB collector/distributorroad between I-75 and Spring Street “One overall challenge is managing the logistics of all the moving parts in order to keep the project progressing forward,” said Coody. “The work is progressing well, but it is a daily challenge to make sure everything runs smoothly. The utility relocation work for this project was challenging due to the sheer amount of utilities existing inside the projects’ limits, but with a lot of coordination among state, local and private agencies, we were able to accomplish our set goals It is progressing very well and is mostly complete.

“This is primarily a daytime project, but we also have our fair share of night work due to contractual time restrictions with closing lanes on the interstate and other local surround-

New material should include 40,000 tons of concrete, 150,000 tons of asphalt, 10,000 tons of steel and 15,000 linear ft. of pipe.

Additional Construction Bridge work on this contract included six newly constructed bridges on Phase 1.

“The bridge work is progressing very well and a total of 10 out of the 42 proposed bridges have been completed thus far,” said Coody. “We plan to continue constructing the outer bridges first in order to make room to relocate traffic, and then construct the remaining bridges.”

Key equipment for this work includes a Kobelco CK1100G crane, a Komatsu PC 210 LC excavator and a Manitowoc 4100W crane.

Other elements of construction have crews installing lighting, utility relocation and constructing roadways.

“About $120 million worth of work has been completed so far,” said Coody.

The I-16 EB CD road between I-75 and Spring Street is nearly finished, with Phase 1 estimated to be completed around winter of 2021.

“The I-16 EB CD road is still being constructed,” said Coody, “and the current challenge is completing the previous, dependent work on time, and then safely and efficiently shifting traffic onto the new roadway.”

Phases 2 and 3 were awarded together to E.R. Snell Contractor for $156 million.

Phase 2 deals with 1.02 mi. improvements along I-75 NB from Hardeman Avenue to the southern limit of the I-16 interchange, which has E.R. Snell shifting the exit to I-16 EB southwards, constructing a new ramp to I-16 EB parallel to the I-75 NB mainline as a CD road between Hardeman Avenue and the I-16/I-75 interchange; building two lanes on I-75 NB and two lanes on the I-16 EB collector distributor road; improving to I-75 SB from Hardeman Avenue through the interchange with I-16; relocating egress/ingress locations to/from I-16 along I-75 SB; and shifting the exit to I-16 EB from I-75 SB and the entrance ramp from I-16 WB to I-75 SB southwards.

Phase 3 is focusing on the construction of I-75 northbound within the I-16/I-75 interchange. The main aspects are the construction of the west-to-south CD roads and bridges over the Ocmulgee River and Norfolk Southern Railroads, and the beginning portion of the I-75 SB to I-16 EB ramp.

Completed Construction E.R. Snell has already completed the $12 million Phase 1B in fall 2018 that covered improvements to the Pleasant Hill Neighborhood on each side of the I-75 corridor, which included working with the Macon Bibb Community Enhancement Authority on relocation and rehabilitation of seven vacant lots and buildings (17 new residential structures throughout the community); cultural resource mitigation efforts that captured the oral and visual history of the see INTERCHANGE page 6

Construction Equipment Guide • Georgia State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • May 19, 2021 • Page 5

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E.R. Snell, C.W. Matthews Lead $63M Improvement Project INTERCHANGE from page 4

Pleasant Hill neighborhood, created a linear park with a green space and multi-use trail, lighting and information kiosks along the east side of I-75 and Jefferson Long Park on the west side of I-75; the relocation of the boyhood home of Little Richard, the Penniman House, to Jefferson Long Park; mitigation work that built noise and visual walls along I-75 within Pleasant Hill; replaced the David Lucas Pedestrian bridge; transformed an open drainage ditch into a grass-covered culvert; did some resurfacing and sidewalk rehabilitation throughout the community; and closed the Frontage Road between First and Second streets to create a green space access to the pedestrian bridge.

With phases adjacent to each other, it has been easier for crews to meet deadlines and benchmarks.

“The Phase 2 and 3 work is progressing well and is expected to be completed around spring 2022,” said Coody, noting that crews are working on both projects simultaneously.

Cranes, excavators and drilling rigs are key pieces of equipment that are driving the project.

“Excavated material is being reused and recycled at times depending on the work needed,” said Coody.

The C.W. Matthew management team consists of one roadway crew, three bridge crews and 56 subcontractors and the E.R. Snell team consists of three road way crews, five bridge crews and 58 subcontractors.

Average days for all three phases have more than 100 construction workers on site. The main subcontractors for C.W. Matthews are Gregory Bridge, BBH, Bonn-J, C&G Concrete, EL Jones, Cymco7, Mario’s Reinforced Steel LLC and Pyles Plumbing. For E.R Snell, the subcontractors are Anatek, Southeast Grinding and Grooving, EL Jones, BBH, Peek Pavement, Massana and Pittman

The goal for this massive project is a final delivery in 2030

Construction New material should include 40,000 tons of concrete, 150,000 tons of asphalt, 10,000 tons of steel and 15,000 linear ft. of pipe.

In term of other equipment, C.W. Matthews and E.R. Snell are both using cranes, excavators, drill rigs, and other standard pieces of iron.

The main wear and tear issues include excavator tracks, rubber hoses and hydraulic lines.

“Both general contractors have mechanics on-site daily,” said Coody. “Regular equipment maintenance and good maintenance schedules are the keys to preventing equipment malfunction.”

Both companies rent and purchase equipment from local and regional dealerships.

On a daily basis, approximately 140,000 cars and trucks utilize the interchange area and when completed, will be able to accommodate more than 200,000 vehicles.  CEG

Hall County — Site of Seven Current or Future Road Projects The dynamic area of Georgia’s Hall County, northeast of Atlanta, is a busy one as far as road and bridge projects, and that trend is expected continue for the foreseeable future.

At the May 4 meeting of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce’s annual transportation forum, many of them were discussed, according to the Gainesville Times.

Here is a snapshot of a few of them: Widening of Spout Springs Road South Hall County drivers can attest to this $32 million project being fully under way, as recent lane closures due to the construction has snarled traffic.

Slated to be finished in December 2021, Spout Springs Road is being expanded from two to four lanes, with a multipurpose path on either side, between Hog Mountain Road and Union Circle.

The Times reported a second phase of the project also is on tap that will continue the widening to Thompson Mill Road, but money for that construction hasn’t been identified.

Sardis Connector Right of way acquisition is now being done for the Sardis Connector, one of Hall County’s most anticipated projects. When that task is completed in July 2022, construction crews will begin building a new fourlane highway between Dawsonville Highway/GA Highway 53 in West Hall to Thompson Bridge Road/GA 60, using parts of Sardis Road.

The connecting roadway is projected to be done in 2024 at an overall cost of nearly $60 million, split between Hall County and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).

Athens Highway Widening This $45 million, 7-mi.-long project will complete the four-lane connection between Gainesville and Athens. Ground was broken for the project in August 2016, and it is set for completion this August.

Work crews have focused on widening Athens Highway/U.S. 129 from Gillsville Highway/GA 332 in East Hall southeast to the town of Talmo in Jackson County.

The roadway is considered a key truck

and commerce route for the state as it connects Interstate 985 in Gainesville with I-85 to the southeast, especially with the GDOT widening I-85 from four to six lanes between GA 53 and U.S. 129, the Gainesville newspaper reported.

River.

Work on the $28 million Browns Bridge is rapidly heading toward completion, while the $20 million Dawsonville Highway structure over the Chattahoochee is projected to be finished by December 2022.

Improvements to Green Street The City of Gainesville has let bids for design services on this $18 million project, which will feature a 5-ft. raised median, slightly wider lanes, rebuilt sidewalks, new streetlights and a possible roundabout on Green Street at Academy Street and E.E. Butler Parkway.

The Hall Chamber of Commerce was told the downtown Gainesville improvement project is set to get under way in 2025, with right of way acquisition possibly starting in 2023.

Intersection Upgrades Also Coming Soon An effort to install new right turn lanes at Gainesville’s Jesse Jewell and Queen City parkways will be completed in August at a cost of $1.6 million.

New Bridges Set to Be Built Two new bridge construction projects also are slated for Hall County — on Browns Bridge Road/GA 369 at the Hall-Forsyth County line, spanning the Chattahoochee River, and on westbound Dawsonville Highway/GA 53 over the Chattahoochee

New GA 365 Interchange Planned GDOT wants to transform the Howard Road/Lanier Tech Drive intersection on GA 365 into an interchange, according to the Gainesville Times.

To do so, the transportation agency will have the traffic light removed so that northbound and southbound traffic can flow freely and drivers exiting left can use a ramp to cross over GA 365. Right turns off GA 365 would remain.

Construction on the $11 million project is not expected to begin until 2024. 

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