Georgia 18, September 6, 2023

Bridge Project Earns GDOT Prestigious Award Honor

The Georgia Department of Transportation earned a regional award in the 2023 America’s Transportation Awards competition at the Southern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ annual meeting held in Mobile, Ala.

Georgia DOT’s winning submission, the “Historic 5th Street Pedestrian Bridge Rehabilitation Project,” won in the Quality of Life/Community Development, Small Project category and competed alongside projects of similar size and scope from the 14-state SASHTO region, which includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia in addition to Georgia.

“This recognition highlights GDOT’s continued commitment to collaborating with local stakeholders to deliver projects that are important to them and their communities and demonstrates the value of the Transportation Investment Act program and the funding it provides to make regional projects like this one happen,” Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry said. “The Georgia Department of Transportation is honored to receive this prestigious award.”

This $9 million project transformed the outdated 5th Street Bridge over the Savannah River in Augusta into a pedestrian crossing.

Grant Helps Academy Buy Heavy Equipment Simulators

Students at the Golden Isles College and Career Academy (GICCA) in Brunswick, Ga., will have new opportunities to gain experience in operating heavy construction equipment when four new full-motion simulators are installed.

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According to the Brunswick News, the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) recently awarded GICCA a $417,000 grant to support the school’s new heavy equipment operations pathway. The funds will be used to purchase four Caterpillar Motion Platform Simulators to supplement the two existing desktop simulators the Career Academy installed earlier this year.

Each motion simulator costs $100,000 and features the same controls as the real machines, which will more easily help students in the pathway transition into construction jobs. The controls can be converted to simulate those of a bulldozer and hydraulic excavator.

They also mimic realistic movements, vibrations and sounds found on a construction site.

GICCA began offering the heavy equipment operations pathway during the 2022-23 school year. As part of the pathway’s training, students also are able to attend field trips to observe heavy equipment in action. Joseph Depenhart, principal of GICCA and director

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Georgia’s “Historic 5th Street Pedestrian Bridge Rehabilitation Project,” won the AASHTO award in the Quality of Life/Community Development, Small Project category and competed alongside projects of similar size and scope from the 14-state SASHTO region. AASHTO Executive Director Jim Tymon with Georgia DOT’s Chief Engineer Meg Pirkle.

Ascendum Machinery’s Savannah Location Relocates

Ascendum Machinery’s Savannah, Ga., branch has relocated to a new location.

“This move has been long awaited and is aimed at providing employees and customers with an even better experience with our services and products,” the company said.

“Our old branch at 1627 Dean Forest Road has served us well, but in our commitment to continuous improvement, we have found a new home that offers enhanced facilities and a more convenient setting.”

The new 16,000-sq.-ft. facility includes a 10-bay shop with an enclosed oil and compressor room, a covered drive-thru wash bay and 3,500 sq. ft. parts warehouse. The new address is: 54 Medline Drive, Richmond Hill, Ga., 31324. 

Crews Turn Outdated Bridge Into Newest Community Hub

Originally constructed in 1931, this bridge was closed for years before Georgia DOT turned it into an active hub for community activity. Improving multi-modal access in the area, the project carved out a viable option for those strolling on foot. Today, there are numerous benches with shading, water fountains for people and companion animals and substantial lighting for safety and aesthetic enhancement. The 5th Street Pedestrian Bridge is now listed as an Augusta tourist attraction and is set to host several community arts events and festivals throughout the year.

Georgia DOT worked collaboratively on this project with local governments and regional partners through the agency’s Transportation Investment Act Program, which provides a unique process for Georgia regions to fund communityselected transportation infrastructure projects with a voterapproved 1 percent sales tax.

Georgia DOT’s TIA engineers ensured the project’s timely administration while the city of Augusta oversaw the construction and garnered community support. The bridge rehabilitation was one of the Central Savannah River Area’s 84 projects specially selected by regional leaders on their final investment list for the 20132022 TIA term.

“The transformation of this historic bridge from a potentially hazardous secondary passageway for vehicle traffic across the Savannah River to a historically preserved pedestri-

an destination and community beautification centerpiece is a welcomed improvement for downtown Augusta and North Augusta,” Phil Wahl, a member of the CSRA’s TIA Citizen’s Review Panel, said.

About AASHTO Awards

Sponsored by American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the America’s Transportation Awards serves to recognize state DOTs and highlights the projects they deliver that make their communities better places to live, work and play. Project nominations fall into one of three categories: Operations Excellence, Best Use of Technology & Innovation and Quality of Life/Community Development. 

(All photos courtesy of GDOT.)

The

Funds Will Be Used to Buy Motion Sensor Simulators

of career, technical and agricultural education for Glynn County Schools, said this new pathway at the school and the installation of four new simulators also will benefit the community as a whole.

“We are very grateful that the Georgia Department of Education has selected Glynn County for this fantastic opportunity,” he told the Brunswick News. “As with many jobs in construction and industry, there continues to be a major demand for workers with skills and knowledge necessary to operate heavy equipment.

“This generous training package we have been granted, combined with our strong relationship with [Brunswick’s] Seaboard Construction, will enable us to prepare Glynn County students to fill immediate positions upon graduation from high school,” Depenhart continued. “This is an exciting opportunity to continue GICCA’s work of providing skilled workers to keep Glynn County moving forward.”

The Brunswick News reported that GICCA plans to add more new career pathways this coming school year, including those focused on fire and emergency services, dental science and career-ready workforce.

Simulator Proficiency a Pathway to Good-Paying Jobs

Prior to completing the heavy equipment pathway, students will have the opportunity to complete capstone projects, for which they will perform tasks on real equipment during trips hosted

by GICCA’s local construction partner Seaboard Construction, an asphalt paving, grading and utility contractor.

During the capstones, seasoned operators will monitor the students and make sure they adhere to safety guidelines. Students who successfully complete the pathway will have the opportunity to enter into work-based learning and internships within the construction industry.

“This is great news for Glynn and the surrounding counties,” noted Jeff Kicklighter, Seaboard’s president. “I would like to thank [Superintendent) Dr. Scott Spence and [Glynn County School Board Member] Jerry Mancil for their commitment to the community as well as Dr. Joseph Depenhart and Jeff Holland [GICCA’s construction instructor] for their hard work with this pathway.”

In addition, Kicklighter gave a nod to the Georgia Highway Contractors Association for their assistance in the program.

“Seaboard is committed to the partnership with GICCA, not only for [us] but for other contractors seeking young, excited equipment operators to fulfill the needs of our industry,” he said.

In speaking with the Brunswick News, Brian Weese, CEO of the GICCA Foundation noted, “This investment in our local workforce will provide Glynn County students with a new career option into in-demand highpaying careers in the construction field, and we hope our partnership with Seaboard Construction will create a seamless transition from classroom to career for many of these students.”

The new address is: 54 Medline Dr., Richmond Hill, Ga., 31324.

new 16,000-sq.-ft. facility includes a 10-bay shop with an enclosed oil and compressor room, a covered drive-thru wash bay and a 3,500-sq.-ft. parts warehouse.

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The 5th Street Pedestrian Bridge is now listed as an Augusta tourist attraction.