$250M New Augusta Arena Advances On Schedule
Construction of the $250 million New Augusta Arena continues to move forward on schedule as crews transition from major concrete work into the next phase of structural development at the downtown site. PCL Construction, serving as the project’s general contractor, is overseeing dayto-day operations and coordinating multiple subcontractors to maintain progress across all phases of work.
The Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority owns and operates the Augusta Entertainment Complex, which includes the new arena and the Bell Auditorium. A six-member board appointed by Augusta commissioners governs the authority, with a chairperson appointed by the state legislature. Oak View Group manages the complex.
Construction, serving as the project’s general contractor, is overseeing day-to-day operations and coordinating multiple subcontractors to maintain progress across all phases of work.
Athens, Ga., gave us the college-rock boom in the 1980s as home to R.E.M. and The B-52s. These days, it garners much attention due to sports, specifically the football dynasty of the perennial playoff contenders at the University of Georgia.
The growth of the school and the surrounding community has brought a spate of infrastructure improvement projects throughout Athens. Most recently, this includes the replacement of the State Road 10/U.S. 78 bridge over the North Oconee River.
A 600-ton Liebherr LTM 1500-8.1 allterrain crane from ALL Crane Rental of Georgia, a member of the ALL Family of Companies, is setting steel beams for the project.
T.J. Sokolowski, sales manager of ALL, said the work is being done near a commercial and retail district. “Although the interstate is part of this job, we’re close enough to stores that we’ve gotten permission to use some business’ parking lots for things like prepping counterweight,” said Sokolowski.
New Augusta Arena photo
As the New Augusta Arena rises alongside the Bell Auditorium, the project represents a major investment in the region’s entertainment and economic develop
Next Issue Closes June 25th
Projects Advance Across Johns Creek Area With Milestones
A series of road and infrastructure projects across the Johns Creek area continue to progress, with crews advancing bridge work, utility relocation and roadway improvements on several key corridors. In addition to visible roadway upgrades, much of the work involves extensive subsurface preparation, including excavation, grading and coordination between multiple utility providers to minimize future disruptions.
On Abbotts Bridge Road, construction remains active between Parsons Road and Medlock Bridge Road. Crews are installing concrete sidewalks on the north side near Abbotts Station Drive, including curb ramps that meet ADA accessibility standards. Along the south side, guardrails are being anchored with steel posts driven into the subgrade between Surrey Park Trail and Donnington Drive. Work also is under way on multiple retaining walls, where crews are placing reinforced concrete panels and backfilling with compacted soil to ensure long-term stability.
In the coming weeks, contractors plan asphalt milling on the north side between Aylesbury Farm and a nearby culvert, removing the existing surface layer in preparation for resurfacing. Additional efforts will include slope stabilization using erosion-control matting and riprap placement, drainage improvements such as upgraded storm inlets and piping, and continued work on the second span of the bridge, including deck forming and rebar installation. The project is expected to wrap up in spring 2027.
Work also is progressing on the Barnwell Road corridor, where utility coordination is under way following site clearing and grading. Crews have installed about 800 ft. of a new 12-in. water main, with more than 5,000 ft. remaining, requiring trench excavation, pipe laying and pressure testing. New utility poles have been set on concrete foundations, and overhead wire installation has begun. Stormwater utility installation, including culverts, catch basins and underground piping, and additional relocations are scheduled next as the project moves toward full roadway reconstruction. Completion is anticipated in spring 2027.
At the Buice Road bridge replacement site, crews are advancing substructure work, including the first major
drainage installation, with crews shaping the subgrade and compacting soil layers. Upcoming work includes pile driving to support the bridge foundation, installation of a comprehensive drainage system and bridge beam placement later this summer using heavy lifting equipment. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2026.
On Johns Creek Parkway, construction crews are installing
pedestrian infrastructure, including pole footings and form tubes for bollards designed to separate pedestrians from traffic. Recent work includes demolition of existing curb and gutter and foundation construction for a new traffic signal at Medley and East Johns Crossing, involving electrical conduit placement and signal base installation. Crews also have begun milling operations in a closed section of roadway. Next steps include building a raised intersection to calm traffic, pouring new concrete surfaces and continuing roadway improvements ahead of traffic pattern changes. The timeline calls for completion this summer.
City of Johns Creek photo
At the intersection of Jones Bridge Road with Douglas and Sargent roads, crews are constructing concrete medians and refining turning radii to improve traffic flow and safety.
City of Johns Creek photo
Utility improvements are nearing completion along the eastern segment of McGinnis Ferry Road, where waterline installation is complete and crews are preparing for final connections and system testing.
City of Johns Creek photo
Work on the Medlock Bridge Road pedestrian crossing and tunnel has advanced with backfilling, grading and asphalt placement on the east side of the structure.
City of Johns Creek photo
On the Abbotts Bridge Road project, work is under way on multiple retaining walls, where crews are placing reinforced concrete panels and backfilling with compacted soil to ensure long-term stability.
YANCEY BROS. CO.
City of Johns Creek Gives Update On Local Projects
City of Johns Creek photo
At the Buice Road bridge replacement site, crews are advancing substructure work, including the first major concrete placement for bridge footings and piers.
PROJECTS from page 4
At the intersection of Jones Bridge Road with Douglas and Sargent roads, crews are constructing concrete medians and refining turning radii to improve traffic flow and safety. Work includes forming and pouring median islands, adjusting lane alignments and preparing the base layers for asphalt paving. Utility relocations continue along the east side of the corridor, including underground line adjustments, and landscaping work—such as soil preparation, planting and irrigation installation—is scheduled along the west side. The project is expected to finish in summer 2026.
Utility improvements are nearing completion along the eastern segment of McGinnis Ferry Road, where waterline installation is complete and crews are preparing for final connections and system testing. Gas line installation continues across the corridor, requiring trenching and safety inspections, along with retaining wall construction to support roadway widening. Additional work includes base layer preparation and future asphalt paving as part of the widening effort, which is expected to be completed in spring 2028.
Meanwhile, work on the Medlock Bridge Road pedestrian crossing and tunnel has advanced with backfilling, grading and asphalt placement on the east side of the structure. Crews are compacting soil in layers to ensure structural integrity while forming the tunnel approaches. Traffic has shifted to accommodate construction on the west side, where
similar excavation and structural work is underway, with reduced speed limits in place and temporary barriers installed for safety. Officials urge motorists to use caution in the work zone. Completion is scheduled for summer 2026.
City officials said the projects are part of broader efforts to improve traffic flow, safety and infrastructure capacity
Roadway grading is being prepared near Farmbrook Lane for future drainage installation, with crews shaping the subgrade and compacting soil layers on the Buice Road project.
GDOT Announces East-Central District Project Contracts
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) recently awarded new contracts for projects in the agency’s east-central district.
In Greene County, Pittman Construction Company has been awarded a $32.29 million project to widen and reconstruct 3.76 mi. of State Route 44, between Carey Station Road and the southern limit of the ongoing Phase 1 project, about one mile south of King Drive.
This project will widen SR 44 to a fourlane section consisting of two travel lanes in each direction, a depressed median, and a bike lane on the paved shoulder. The existing bridge over Richland Creek will be widened. The existing culvert over Little Creek will be replaced with two bridges separated by a 32-ft. depressed median. Additionally, new roundabouts will be constructed at the intersection of SR 44 and Richland Connector, and the intersection of SR 44 and Carey Station Rd. A completion date of Aug. 31, 2030, has been given.
This is Phase 2 of Georgia DOT’s effort to widen and improve SR 44 in Greene and Putnam counties. Upon completion, 11.5 mi. of the route will have been widened to four
lanes, between Old Phoenix Road/Harmony Road in Putnam County and Town Creek Boulevard in Greensboro.
In Emanuel County, McLendon Enterprises has been awarded a $2.71 million project to build a new roundabout at the intersection of U.S. Route 1/State Route 4 and State Route 57/Kite Road. The roundabout is expected to reduce crashes and improve traffic flow at the intersection. A completion date of Sept. 30, 2027, has been given.
In Columbia and Richmond counties, 2.77 mi. of State Route 28/Furys Ferry Road will be resurfaced, between State Route 104/River Watch Parkway and Evans to Locks Road. E.R. Snell Contractor Inc. has been awarded this $2.11 million project. A completion date of March 31, 2027, has been given.
In Jefferson County, 2.07 mi. of U.S. Route 1/State Route 4 will be resurfaced in Wrens, between State Route 540/The Fall Line Freeway and Quaker Road. Pittman Construction Company has been awarded this $1.44 million project. A completion date of March 31, 2027, has been given.
City of Johns Creek photo
GDOT Awards Construction Contracts Totaling $107.2M
The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) awarded a total of 28 projects valued at approximately $107.2 million at the monthly State Transportation Board meeting held in April. Contracts were awarded to the lowest qualified bidders on May 1, 2026.
The largest single investment resurfacing project, valued at approximately $6.5 million, proposes 6.25 mi. of milling, inlay and plant mix resurfacing on State Route (SR) 141 beginning south of Winters Chapel Road and extending to the north end of the bridge over the Chattahoochee River (MP 6.251) in Gwinnett County. This contract and 19 other resurfacing projects total approximately $66.5 million and represent 62 percent of the total funds awarded.
The largest construction contract, valued at approximately $26.8 million, proposes 1.47 mi. of widening and reconstruction on SR 14 Spur beginning south of SR 109 and extending to U.S. 29/SR 14 in Troup County. This contract and three other construction projects total approximately $37.1 million and represent 34 percent of the total funds awarded.
The largest bridge rehabilitation contract,
Fairfield Place (CS 961) and over Lawton Street in Fulton County. This contract and one other bridge rehabilitation project total approximately $2.8 million and represent 3
percent of the total funds awarded.
The largest safety contract, valued at $535,000, proposes signing and pavement marking upgrades on various county roads in Decatur County. This contract and one other safety project total approximately $757,000 and represent the remaining 1 percent of the total funds awarded. The Award Announcement list for April (includes withdrawn and deferred projects). Bids for Design-Bid-Build projects were received on April 17, and contracts were awarded to the lowest qualified bidders on May 1, 2026.
The Supplemental Award Announcement (includes previously deferred projects that have now been awarded). Contracts were awarded to the lowest qualified bidder on May 12.
The April awards bring the total construction contracts for Fiscal Year 2026, which began on July 1, 2025, to approximately $2.2 billion. This total includes TIA, Design-Bid-Build, and locally administered projects. Fiscal Year 2026 will conclude June 30, 2026.
Contractors and consultants, including Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs), registered small businesses and veteran-owned small businesses interested in bidding on projects or performing work must prequalify with Georgia DOT. For more information, visit dot.ga.gov/ GDOT/Pages/DBE.aspx.
Crane Places Beams On North Oconee River Bridge
CRANE from page 1
The Liebherr AT is configured with 155 ft. of main boom and 363,800 lbs. of counterweight. A Y-guy attachment boosts capacity to handle the 103,000-lb. beams. The crane single-picked a total of 10 beams for this phase of construction.
An all-terrain crane was a good fit for this project due to the mid-operation crane relocation that was required. “At approximately the mid-point of the operation, after setting five beams on one side, we needed to move the crane to the opposite side to set the remaining five beams,” said Sokolowski. “We can execute this move much faster with an AT than a crawler.”
It would have taken longer to assemble and teardown a crawler, plus, a second crane would have been needed to assist with the process. “This large capacity AT has the might and reach to handle the lifts while also saving money for our customer,” said Sokolowski.
Liebherr’s on-board LICCON computer also provided a strategic advantage.
ALL first used 3-D lift planning software to plot out the physical orientation of the crane in relation to the lifts. Next, the branch employed LICCON to practice the lifts. LICCON enables the operator to use all in-cab controls as he executes a simulated lift on the LICCON screen.
ALL worked with its customer, E.R. Snell, to set specs for a temporary roadway where the Liebherr AT could set up.
“It necessitated a deep dive into the drawings, site
visits, checking measurements and confirming load charts,” said Sokolowski. “E.R. Snell graded a road off the existing highway with compacted dirt and other ground mitigation to accommodate the ground bearing
He noted that the narrow road extended just outside
The crane was on-site for approximately one week. ALL returned in April 2026 for another phase of the
GDOT graphic
Crews Prep for Structural Steel Placement On New Arena
from page 1
Crews reached several key milestones in late 2025, completing foundations, piles and aggregate piers that established the building’s base. Under PCL’s direction, this phase required careful coordination of earthwork and deep foundation crews, supported by drilling rigs, pile-driving equipment and heavy earthmoving machinery. Workers also placed the Level 2 main concourse deck and began progress on the Level 3 suite level, using concrete pump trucks, formwork systems and finishing equipment to maintain placement efficiency.
Concrete operations continued into early 2026, with placement advancing across multiple suite level areas and the Level 4 upper concourse. PCL Construction managed simultaneous work zones to keep crews productive at multiple elevations, supported by cranes and concrete delivery systems. In total, crews have poured more than 7,000 cu. yds. of concrete.
Additional infrastructure improvements included installation of a new sanitary sewer line and delivery and installation of transformers supporting both the arena and the adjacent Bell Auditorium. These efforts were coordinated through PCL’s utility and electrical subcontractors, requiring trenching operations, excavation equipment and craneassisted placement of critical components.
With major concrete work largely complete, crews are preparing for structural steel delivery and erection. That work marks a key transition from foundational construction to vertical building development. PCL Construction is coordinating logistics for incoming steel, including staging, sequencing and crane operations that will support erection activities.
Upcoming activity includes additional suite level deck placements, fire service water line connections and expanded underground plumbing systems. Structural steel is scheduled to begin arriving on site as contractors prepare for erection operations, marking the next highly visible phase of construction.
The project continues to maintain steady productivity with
Construction of the $250 million New Augusta Arena continues to move forward on schedule as crews tran sition from major concrete work into the next phase of structural development at the downtown site.
an average of 120 workers on site daily, representing a range of trades coordinated by PCL Construction. Crews logged approximately 25,000 hours in November alone, bringing the total to more than 108,000 hours to date.
Notably, the project has reported zero scheduled delays, reflecting consistent coordination among PCL, its subcontractors and project stakeholders.
As the New Augusta Arena rises alongside the Bell Auditorium, the project represents a major investment in the region’s entertainment and economic development, backed by strong construction management and efficient execution in the field.
“This project is a testament to what our community can accomplish when we work together,” officials said. “We are building Augusta’s future.” CEG
New Augusta Arena photo
With major concrete work largely complete, crews are preparing for structural steel delivery and erection.
Prime Inc. to Build New $160M Facility in Spalding County
Gov. Brian P. Kemp announced April 14, 2026, that Prime Inc., a leading North American transportation company, will invest more than $160 million to establish a new Southeastern regional hub in Spalding County. The new facility will create more than 120 new, full-time jobs in addition to hiring more than 50 professional drivers.
“Prime Inc.’s new campus will further add to Georgia’s $107 billion transportation and logistics industry that creates and supports jobs in every corner of our state,” said Kemp. “I want to thank the state and local economic developers who made this great project possible and the company leaders who chose the number one state for business for this exciting new chapter.”
Specializing in refrigerated, flatbed, tanker, hopper, intermodal and logistics transportation services, Prime Inc. operates a fleet of more than 7,000 units with more than 8,500 drivers.
“Prime Inc. is thrilled to announce growth of our company with construction of a new terminal campus to be located in Georgia, a state renowned for its strong work ethic, which aligns perfectly with our company’s values of dedication and excellence,” said Robert Low, CEO and founder of Prime Inc. “Spalding County’s strategic proximity to many of our top customers enhances our ability to deliver exceptional service, while also being conveniently located for the benefit of our fleet of professional drivers. This new terminal strengthens our commitment to support growth of our associates’ careers while meeting the needs of our customers across the nation.”
Prime’s new Southeastern campus will be located at High Falls 16 Business Center near Griffin. The terminal will house facilities to complement its driving base, including driver development and training, equipment maintenance and comfort
amenities. Additional services will include selling well-maintained used truck/trailer equipment and recycling used truck tires to produce aggregate rubber material for usable mulch and pellets. These efforts currently shred more than 1 million truck tires per year, keeping them out of landfills.
The company will be hiring mechanics, driving operators and facility maintenance to start. Interested individuals can learn more about working at Prime at lifeatprime.com
“Prime’s facility promises a significant capital investment and excellent career opportunities for the residents of Griffin and Spalding County,” said Nat Doughie, chairman, Griffin-Spalding Development Authority. “The additional facilities the company is building into the campus enhances the employee and driver experience, and we look forward to welcoming Prime to our growing and thriving community.”
“Prime’s decision to establish a
Southeastern hub in Spalding County marks an exciting step forward for the region,” said Katie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “This investment will boost our powerful logistics industry, strengthen other key sectors and create new opportunities for business growth and job creation across the metro area.”
Elizabeth McLean, assistant director of statewide projects, represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Global Commerce team on this competitive project in partnership with the Griffin-Spalding Development Authority, Metro Atlanta Chamber and Georgia EMC.
“Prime’s decision to locate here underscores Georgia’s role as a logistics leader, with direct access to markets across the country,” said Pat Wilson, GDEcD commissioner. “With logistics supporting one in nine Georgia jobs, this new campus will strengthen an industry that touches every community in our state.”
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