Georgia DOT has awarded 27 construction contracts for statewide transportation projects totaling $81,216,508. These projects were advertised in December, bids were received on January 19 and contracts were awarded on February 2 to the lowest qualified bidder.
 
Routine maintenance, which represents over 80 percent of the awarded funds, addresses resurfacing on 664 miles of roadway - including every GDOT district in the state. Several bridge rehabilitation contracts were also awarded. This focus on deferred routine maintenance is made possible through funds resulting from Georgia’s Transportation Funding Act of 2015.
 
A $4.25 million contract was also awarded for 0.2 mile of construction of a bridge and approaches on South Cherokee Road (formerly SR 11) over CSX Railroad in Walton County in the City of Social Circle. The existing 64 year-old bridge is in poor condition and does not serve current needs. The new bridge will be constructed in the existing location, raised slightly to achieve proper railroad clearances and the two travel lanes will be widened. Sidewalks will be added to connect to sidewalks along South Cherokee Road across the railroad.
 
The bridge is in the heart of the City Historic District, and is the primary entrance into the Historic Downtown, Social Circle City Manager Adele Schirmer explains.
 
“GDOT developed the project plans and schedule with consideration and responsiveness to the community and to City input,” Schirmer said. “We understand that the bridge replacement will be temporarily disruptive, but a significant safety and infrastructure improvement for the long term. The inclusion of period appropriate detailing on the bridge was important and we appreciate the inclusion of this element in the construction plans. We are pleased to see this project moving into construction and look forward to working with GDOT towards successful completion of this infrastructure improvement.”
 
The roadway will be closed for up to 180 calendar days during construction—excluding the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas—with a detour using SR 11/Social Circle Bypass. As requested by the City of Social Circle, an ornamental fence will be used instead of the standard chain link. The contractor is E.R. Snell Contractor, Inc. of Snellville, Ga. and the anticipated completion is October 31, 2019. 
 
Additional awards include an $8 million safety project to install 60 miles of median cable barriers at 11 locations along the 84 miles of Interstate 16/State Route 404 from Treutlen to Chatham counties in east central and southeast Georgia. The goal is to reduce median crossover collisions that occur when an out of control vehicle crosses the median and strikes a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction - often resulting in a head-on crash. Cable barriers are shown to save lives and reduce serious injuries. The contract was awarded to RMD Holdings, Ltd. d/b/a Nationwide Construction Group with an anticipated completion of October 31, 2019.
 
The awards bring the seven-month Fiscal Year 2018 total construction contracts to $645.7 million. FY 18 began July 1.