Georgia 14, July 12, 2023

Crews Wrap Project Four Years Ahead of Schedule

The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) announced its second Major Mobility Investment Program (MMIP) project has been completed ahead of schedule.

The I-85 Widening, Phase 2 project expanded I-85 north and southbound from two to three lanes between State Route (SR) 53 and U.S. 129.

Additionally, the project replaced and widened six mainline bridges on I-85 and one overpass bridge at SR 332. The purpose of the project was to grow capacity and enhance safety for motorists.

Using the innovative design-build method, the project was advanced more than four years ahead of the initial MMIP schedule, which estimated a construction completion in 2028.

The widening of I-85 represents a top objective for improving freight and passenger vehicle mobility in one of Georgia’s most vital corridors. This endeavor was a continuation of the I-85 Widening, Phase 1 project, which was completed in 2020.

“This has been a major priority for the department,” said Georgia DOT Project Manager Albert “Butch” Welch. “We are thrilled to have this project open to traffic so far ahead of our initial estimates. Creating additional lane space along a pathway to and from South Carolina and through such an important corridor for the traveling public has been a goal for us and we are excited to share this piece with the public.”

see MMIP page 8

Notorious Traffic Bottleneck in Atlanta Among Two Roads Due for Upgrades

The State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) in Georgia signed off June 26 on two major highway improvement projects, including an interchange west of Atlanta that is ranked among the worst traffic bottlenecks in the nation.

SRTA Board members unanimously approved resolutions authorizing agreements between the authority and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to split oversight of upgrades to intersections along Georgia Highway 316 and an overhaul of the heavily congested Interstate 285/I-20 West interchange.

The Ga. 316 project calls for building seven grade-separated intersections along the busy highway connecting Athens with I-85 in Lawrenceville to improve both traffic flow and safety. The intersections involved in the project are in Barrow and Oconee counties.

The construction will be done through three contracts worth approximately $350 million in total, the LedgerEnquirer reported, with the first one involving two Ga. 316 intersections in Barrow County.

Additionally, the project replaced and widened six mainline bridges on I-85 and one overpass bridge at SR 332.

Atlanta Beltline Receives $25M RAISE Grant From USDOT

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced June 27 that it is awarding a $25 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant to the city of Atlanta and Atlanta BeltLine Inc.

The funds will be used for the construction of a 2.2-mi.-long network of multi-use trails in northeast Atlanta between the Armour/Ottley and Lindbergh areas.

The project also marks the first time the Atlanta BeltLine trail will connect to a MARTA transit station (at Lindbergh Center), fulfilling the vision to connect with the region’s larger transportation network. Additionally, it will knit together the regional trail network, affordable housing and job centers across a complex series of transportation barriers.

Without securing this grant, the construction of these vitally important connector trails was uncertain, according to Atlanta

“The northeast segment of the BeltLine is a huge undertaking, but Atlanta does big, and we do it well and we do it together,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.

He added that thanks to Georgia’s two U.S. senators, Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock, along with Congresswoman Nikema Williams and the Biden Administration,

“Atlanta now has $25 million in funding, in addition to millions in infrastructure dollars already delivered, for utility, stormwater, accessibility and safety infrastructure for Segment 3 and surrounding connectors.”

Unlike most BeltLine’s corridors, this part of the Northeast Trail does not follow abandoned railroad lines. It also is unique in metro Atlanta as the only place where an interstate, state roads and highways, regional rail and bus, and several regional trails converge.

The new BeltLine trail segments will pro-

heavy rail, Norfolk Southern and CSX freight rail, state highways and Peachtree Creek. In addition, the project will offer pedestrian and cyclist access between the BeltLine’s mainline trail, the Armour/Ottley business district, major employers along Piedmont Road, multi-family residential developments and other major regional trails.

“With the incredible support of the USDOT and our congressional delegation, we’re creating a city that allows people to move within it, creating new access points that lead to jobs, housing, and activities,” explained Clyde Higgs, president and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine Inc. “The BeltLine is creating a vibrant public space and a more equitable city for Atlantans by ensuring mobility and access for all who live and work near the corridor. The construction of the Northeast Trail network is a crucial part of this vision.”

Officials Want BeltLine to Aid in Healing Inequities

The Atlanta BeltLine is catalyzing current and future regional growth surrounding a 22-mi. loop of trails, transit and parks. It connects communities that were intentionally segregated for generations by large infrastructure projects and banking policies that split the city and forged deep divisions by race and class.

The BeltLine’s RAISE proposal, titled “Trails to Transit: Reconnecting Atlanta Communities,” supports safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, mobility and community connectivity, economic competitiveness and opportunity.

on the frontlines of our green economy, and by investing in this world-class transportation corridor, we are continuing to pave a path towards a better tomorrow.”

Ossoff also released a statement that read, “The BeltLine is a transformative Metro Atlanta infrastructure project to upgrade quality of life and spur equitable development across the region. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are investing to accelerate the completion of the BeltLine Trail. Imagine families walking and biking, [along with] restaurants, retail, small businesses, green spaces and trail connectivity across Metro Atlanta. This is a huge step forward towards that vision.”

Construction on the RAISE-funded section of the Northeast Trail mainline and connector trails is expected to begin in early 2025. The trail’s design is currently 60 percent complete.

Redevelopment Program Funded By Many Sources

The line’s trail corridor is funded through the BeltLine Tax Allocation District (TAD), the Special Service District (SSD), philanthropic contributions, grants and other sources needed to complete the loop. The Atlanta Regional Commission prioritized funding for Northeast Trail construction and allocated $12.97 million in federal funding through the Transportation Improvement Program. The RAISE grant will help fill a critical funding gap to support the total project cost of $70.7 million.

Atlanta Beltline map The project marks the first time the Atlanta BeltLine trail will connect to a MARTA transit station (at Lindbergh Center), fulfilling the vision to connect with the region’s larger transportation network.

“The BeltLine is more than a walking path, it is an artery connecting Atlantans to each other and their neighborhoods in the heart of our state,” Warnock noted in a statement. “That is why I am proud to have worked alongside Sen. Ossoff to secure these funds for the city to expand trail construction, bolster accessibility, strengthen economic development and more. Atlanta is

Atlanta BeltLine Inc.’s vision is to be the catalyst for making the Georgia capital city a global beacon for equitable, inclusive and sustainable city life. As one of the largest, most wide-ranging urban redevelopment programs in the nation, the BeltLine is building a more socially and economically resilient city with its partner organizations and host communities through job creation, inclusive transportation systems, affordable housing and public spaces for all. 

Construction Progresses On $126M Classic Center Hockey Arena

More than a year after it broke ground, construction on the $126 million Classic Center Arena project in downtown Athens, Ga., is moving along on North Thomas Street near the University of Georgia’s North Campus and other landmarks, including the Athens Banner-Herald building and several downtown hotels.

The venue is being billed as “Northeast Georgia’s premier

event facility,” by project officials.

Designed by Perkins + Will and Smallwood, the new arena aims to become a regional destination for music, sports, entertainment and other events, with 5,500 permanent seats for Georgia’s Ice Dawgs club hockey team, and the ability to host up to 8,500 people for in-the-round shows, or 9,000 for basketball.

Additionally, a team in the ECHL, formerly known as the East

Coast Hockey League, has signed on to play games at the Classic Center Arena, reported Urbanize Atlanta.

The facility is being built by JE Dunn Construction, a nationwide firm with an office in Atlanta. As much as $33 million of the arena’s total estimated cost is due to be funded by the state’s specialpurpose local-option sales tax, or see ARENA page 4

Classic Center photo

The Classic Center Arena is expected to open in 2024.

Officials Kick Off Construction of New Statesboro Food Pantry

Supporters of the Statesboro Food Bank in the southeast Georgia community, including officials from the city and Bulloch County, broke ground on the morning of June 27 for a new $2 million, 12,000-sq.-ft. facility envisioned to include not just a food pantry but classrooms for lessons on healthy eating and a dining hall where hot meals will be served to the hungry.

“We’re planning to provide breakfast, lunch and, hopefully, with the assistance of Ogeechee Tech and Georgia Southern, supper,” explained Sheila Stewart-Leach, executive director of The Food Bank Inc. “There will also be two classrooms in the new building where we will teach not only how to cook the items that are in the food boxes for people who want to learn, but also [hold] classes in nutrition and container gardening.”

Classrooms also could serve as “spillover space” if the dining hall, planned to seat 135 people, fills to capacity, the Herald reported. Stewart-Leach and members of the Food Bank’s volunteer board hope to use a courtyard for container gardening and to landscape the grounds with “edibles” such as fig and pear trees.

Another feature will be a drive-thru window for food pantry distributions to folks who are already signed up and have transportation.

The Food Bank still must raise about $800,000 to finish paying for the facility’s construction and equipment, she said. Then, the charity’s annual operating budget will likely increase from the earlier $65,000 to $75,000 range to somewhere in the range of $250,000-$300,000.

Stewart-Leach told the groundbreaking ceremony’s attendees that she hoped they

would consider helping to donate both their money to the project and their time to help feed those who come to the Food Bank.

So far, the building site is a vacant, grassed lot with some trees in the triangle bordered by Northside Drive West, Miller Street and West Parrish Street.

Meanwhile, the current Statesboro Food Bank, located in the old Julia P. Bryant School on Donnie Simmons Way, only operates as a food pantry, from which people in need obtain boxes of groceries for home preparation. In past years, the nonprofit shared space with Rebecca’s Café, an allvolunteer effort that currently serves a free lunch on Wednesdays at First Presbyterian Church.

Stewart-Leach envisions expanding prepared meal service to every day of the week, in partnership with Rebecca’s Café, and suggests Statesboro-based Georgia Southern University (GSU) and college food services also might contribute leftover items.

Federal Source Grants Half Project’s Budget

The first half of the nearly $2 million land acquisition and construction budget has been supplied by the Bulloch County and Statesboro city governments from pandemic-era federal recovery funds. From Statesboro’s share of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, the mayor and city council dedicated $500,000 for the project, and, likewise, the Bulloch County commissioners committed another half-million dollars from the monies it received from ARPA. The $1 million in government grants fell under the congressionally authorized purpose of addressing “food insecurity.”

“These funds have laid the foundation for

the Food Bank’s ambitious new building project,” Stewart-Leach said in a news release prior to the groundbreaking. “We were able to acquire a prime, accessible location on West Northside Drive with roughly $760,000 remaining in the fund for the development and construction of the new facility.”

Additionally, acting on behalf of Food Bank Inc., the city of Statesboro bought the 3.75-acre site in 2022 for $240,000.

Besides the remaining $760,000 from ARPA, the local Food Bank also has raised another $145,000 in “generous contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations, agencies and corporations,” to put bring its “new building fund” total to approximately $905,000, Stewart-Leach told the Statesboro news source.

But the project cost for the facility, after the land acquisition and around $180,000 of in-kind contributions, was budgeted at just over $1.6 million, leaving a $696,000 funding gap to get the building finished. After talking with the builders about materials costs, Stewart-Leach said June 27, she revised the estimated need upward to about $800,000, which she hopes could be partly met with in-kind donations.

Permanent Home

The steel and concrete building, to be constructed by Pearce Building Systems, a Statesboro contractor, with Wesley Parker of Parker Engineering as consulting engineer and Frank D’Arcangelo of DPR Architecture as consulting architect, will include a 6,500-sq.-ft. warehouse for the food pantry, in addition to the 5,500-sq.-ft. public area that will house the commercialsize kitchen, dining hall, and classrooms.

Four GSU interior design students also contributed concept studies for the project.

The warehouse is planned to include two walk-in freezers and two walk-in coolers with a backup generator as well as dry storage areas and an office for the pantry manager.

Stewart-Leach recently presented the Statesboro City Council with a tentative timeline for opening the new facility next January, but Jodi Brannon, the Food Bank’s operations manager, told the Herald she is concerned about whether that will happen and would still like to hear any offers of temporary space as a temporary fallback.

Brannon, who has worked for the organization for 17 years, oversees the day-to-day work of coordinating volunteers, receiving donated food, and issuing it to people in need.

For decades, the Statesboro Food Bank has operated from a succession of “temporary” facilities. First came the old Sallie Zetterower Elementary School campus on the east side of town, which has since become the Statesboro Family YMCA; and from 2013 until now, the Bryant School on the city’s west side. Each property was provided almost rent-free to the Food Bank by the Bulloch County Schools.

Despite that largesse, the history of the Food Bank in Statesboro had been “a struggle to stay open, a struggle to stay in place,” said Bulloch County Manager Tom Couch.

“But through the hard work of many hands in this community, and particularly the Food Bank board of directors and its officers, they wanted something bigger,” he explained. “They had big goals and big ideas.” 

UGA’s Ice Dawgs Hockey Team to Play at New Classic Center Arena

SPLOST, a financing method for funding capital outlay projects in Georgia. The facility will join the multi-use Classic Center next door, a complex that includes a performing arts theater, conference center, and outdoor pavilion for weddings, concerts and sports.

Project backers have predicted the Classic Center Arena will create 600 jobs and generate 90,000 more hotel room nights annually, with an overall impact of $30 million per year.

The 192,000-sq.-ft. project broke ground in February 2022 and is currently expected to finish construction in February 2024,

Urbanize Atlanta learned earlier this year. It joins million-dollar condominiums and a transformative mixed-use development as projects of significant scale in downtown Athens’ planning pipeline.

The Georgia Ice Dawgs once called the Classic Center complex home, often playing before soldout crowds. Prior to that, though, the team was forced to travel to the Atlanta Ice Forum in Duluth, where games were played in front of few spectators and without the atmosphere that had existed at the team’s home matches in Athens.

“When the [Ice Dawgs were] playing in Duluth, it was pretty

much just the parents that would come,” Austin Krusko, a former player, told the Red & Black, an Athens news, sports and culture online site. “There really was not a big fan base. Even the people that love UGA and the students here just were not too interested in making that hour-long drive.”

During the 2015-16 season — the Ice Dawgs’ second full season at the former Classic Center arena — the squad won its first South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference championship.

They continued by winning two of the next three SECHC title games, as well as qualifying for back-to-back American Collegiate

Hockey Association Division 3 National Championships in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.

However, in late January or early February of every season, the Ice Dawgs had to move across the street to the Classic Center’s Foundry Pavilion, an outdoor venue that cost the team some fan attendance due to cold weather and reduced seating.

That led to the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission in July 2019 to add a proposal to provide $34 million toward the construction of a new arena at the Classic Center complex to the SPLOST 2020 project list, and voters approved the measure.

When finished next winter, the new arena will not only give the Ice Dawgs a permanent home for games, but create a significant advantage for future players, as they will no longer have to resort to practicing on the local YMCA field. The new venue will remain within walking distance of UGA’s North Campus.

The Red & Black said a new facility also will play a role in attracting potential Ice Dawgs’ players. It also is likely to create an advantage over other schools in the SECHC, like Florida, which practices and plays in Jacksonville, nearly 75 mi. from its campus in Gainesville. 

ARENA from page 2

Gov. OKs $17.3M in Transportation Infrastructure Funding

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) board of directors announced the approval June 27 of $17.3 million in Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB) loans and grants that will help build seven projects across the state.

Since 2010, GTIB has awarded $200 million in grants and loans investing in projects with a combined project value exceeding $1 billion, demonstrating the impact of the state’s investment and partnerships with local governments and community improvement districts (CIDs) in Georgia over the past 13 years.

The considerable and wideranging GTIB funding during Kemp’s first term is a testament to his administration’s commitment to increasing Georgia’s mobility, and positively impacting the state’s economy.

“Georgia is in the midst of a second industrial revolution, and as a result the need to further build out our infrastructure has never been greater,” the governor said in a news release.

“Thanks to SRTA, this year we are able to fund all of the rural projects that submitted an application for this statewide program. With these substantial awards, we are paving the way for economic growth, expanded opportunities, and seamless mobility for all hardworking Georgians, regardless of their zip code.”

Since its formation, GTIB has provided strategic state investments in critical transportation projects that enhance mobility in local communities throughout Georgia. Applications are evaluated on a competitive basis. Criteria include transportation/engineering merit, economic merit, matching funds and project specifics such as project phase and feasibility.

Loan applications are also evaluated for creditworthiness and overall project merits. An advisory committee made up of representatives from various state agencies and statewide associations evaluate SRTA staff suggestions and make final recommendations to the SRTA Board.

Funds distributed by GTIB are used for capital expenses related to road and bridge infrastructure work.

“Transportation infrastructure projects often entail large upfront costs,” explained SRTA Executive Director Jannine Miller. “Having the options of grants and low inter-

est loans from the state not only makes these projects more affordable but reduces the pressure on local budgets to support other important services to citizens. Serving as a funding partner with local communities, cities, and counties to build transportation projects that promote economic development and mobility is a win-win for Georgia’s citizens and businesses.”

Fiscal Year 2023 awardees, project descriptions, and funding amounts are as fol-

GTIB loan award of $526,772, and grant totaling $400,000.

• City of Lilburn Town Center Connection — This effort will extend Railroad Avenue for approximately onethird of a mile to connect with Terry Lane. In addition, Terry Lane will be upgraded with curb and gutter improvements, realigned with Pine Street, and a left turn will be added along Pine Street

streetscape and other select traffic improvements along Lenox Road from Piedmont Road to Phipps Boulevard. The resulting multi-use path will include a bridge over Ga. 400 parallel to Lenox Road, connecting to Path 400 and extending its distance southward. Traffic improvements throughout the corridor include signal timing and drainage improvements. The GTIB loan award was $2 million.

• Twin City Revitalization Road Project — The plans for this roadwork will realign the threelegged T-type intersection at Washington Road and Janice Drive to create a four-legged, signalized intersection. Left and right turn lanes also will be added to Washington Drive. The project’s objectives are to improve safety and reduce congestion. Twin City’s GTIB loan Award amounted to $250,000; the grant award was $350,000.

• City of Woodstock Hub Transformation Key Extension — Construction crews will widen Town Lake Parkway by one to three lanes from Mill Street to just east of its intersection with Interstate 575 where it meets a planned Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and Cherokee County interchange expansion project. The improvement will increase access to downtown Woodstock and reduce the likelihood of traffic backing up to the I-575 exit ramp. Its GTIB loan award totaled $1.5 million and included a GTIB grant of $825,000.

Monroe County Old Brent Road Bridge Project — The goal of this construction is to replace the existing bridge on Old Brent Road, which has been closed since 2022 due to structural failures. The new crossing would be a prefabricated structure, allowing it to be opened to traffic and mitigate flooding that can occur further upstream at Ga. 83. The bridge project’s GTIB grant award was $794,930.

Widening — This project will resurface 4th Street from Main Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Street, a distance of approximately 3,500 ft. Its lane widths will be expanded to improve safety and traffic flow along a street that regularly carries freight traffic during daily business hours. The GTIB funding will speed up the project by five years. Colquitt received a

will provide improved access to U.S. 29/Georgia Highway 8 (Lawrenceville Highway) and support recent and future developments in the downtown area. Lilburn’s GTIB loan award was $4.7 million.

• Buckhead CID Lenox Road Safe Street Section 3 — This project in Buckhead will consist of pedestrian, bicycle,

• Pike County Resurfacing Project — Contractors will resurface one mile of Brushy Creek Road from city hall to McCranie Road. GTIB funding will enable the entire resurfacing to take place at one time as well as accelerate the project delivery and minimize the impact of inflation. The project’s GTIB loan award was $4.97 million; its grant award totaled $993,532. 

MMIP Program Aims to Reduce Congestion On Key Routes

MMIP from page 1

Construction on the I-85 Widening, Phase 2 project began in June 2021. The department accelerated construction of the I-85 mainline bridges in June 2022, completing them in approximately three months. An initial 4-mi. segment of the new third lane opened in October 2022 prior to the full project reveal in June.

In the coming weeks, crews will complete final pavement markings, add rumble strips to the shoulders and place final

signage.

Jackson County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, boasting a large agricultural industry and a growing number of warehouses and distribution centers. In addition to added lane capacity, the I-85 Widening, Phase 2 project reduces congestion, improves operational efficiencies and enhances mobility. In the future, the project is expected to better accommodate more than 100,000 vehicles with an estimated 69 percent reduction in corridor delays.

Improving this portion of I-85 was crucial for ensuring the future growth of the local and statewide economy.

“Finding safer and faster options for Georgia’s traveling public is always paramount for the department,” said Georgia DOT P3 Construction Manager Andrew Hoenig. “We are excited to be able to provide additional capacity in this key corridor and a safer pathway for travelers to reach their destinations.”

Moving forward, Georgia DOT will finish the third phase of I-85 widening, covering 13 mi. from U.S. 129 to U.S. 441, continuing its mobility improvement initiative.

For more information about I-85 Phase Widening, Phase 2 visit https://majormobilityga.com/projects/i85wideningphase2/.

For more information about the I-85 Widening, Phase 3 project, visit https://i-85-widening-015245gdot.hub.arcgis.com/

About Major Mobility Investment Program

The Major Mobility Investment Program (MMIP) is a grouping of large-scale projects expected to yield a signifi-

cant reduction in congestion along key freight and passenger corridors. The projects will create additional capacity, improve the movement of freight, provide operational improvements and efficiencies, enhance safety, and decrease travel times. For more information, visit https://majormobilityga.com 

(All photos courtesy of Georgia Department of Transportation.)

GDOT Plans to Issue RFP for Projects Due to Begin in 2024

GDOT from page 1

GDOT plans to issue a request for proposals from interested road builders for the $100 million contract and announce the winner of the bidding in December.

Construction is due to start during the fall of 2024.

The second road project calls for redesigning the I-285/I-20 West interchange

west of Atlanta, ranked as the fifth-worst traffic bottleneck in the U.S. by the American Transportation Research Institute. Likely totaling about $1 billion to build, that project will include the removal of the interstate’s left-hand entrance and exit ramps and building a westbound collectordistributor system from the interchange to Fulton Industrial Boulevard.

Additionally, lanes will be added along I20 from Factory Shoals Road to Hamilton E. Holmes Drive and along I-285 from Donald E. Hollowell Parkway to MLK Jr. Drive. Several bridges along the corridor also will be replaced, the Columbus news source noted.

In April, GDOT chose two finalists for the work, and the state agency said it plans

to announce a “best value proposer” during the second quarter of 2024.

Under the agreements between SRTA and GDOT, SRTA will finance the projects and pay the contractors, while the transportation department will manage the construction. Georgia’s State Transportation Board has already approved both agreements. 

The Georgia Department of Transportation recently announced that its I-85 Widening Project, Phase 2I, was completed four years ahead of schedule and is now open to the public.

The project expanded I-85 north and southbound from two to three lanes between State Route (SR) 53 and US 129 — growing capacity and enhancing safety for motorists.

GDOT accelerated construction of the I-85 mainline bridges in June 2022, completing them in approximately three months.

Moving forward, Georgia DOT will finish the third phase of I-85 widening covering 13 mi. from U.S. 129 to U.S. 441, continuing its mobility improvement initiative.

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