Weather forces change in bridge work plans

BUFORD - The Georgia Department of Transportation has rescheduled bridge beam setting over Interstate 85 southbound near Buford this week to daytime hours instead of overnight. The reason: the extremely cold overnight temperatures and high winds.

The new beams are part of the widening of SR 324 funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

"...this work is (now) scheduled to occur Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on I-85 southbound only," Georgia DOT construction engineer Randall Davis explained. "The right or outside lane will close to traffic for about a half mile on each side of the 324 bridge. All southbound traffic will be slowed then stopped for about 10 minutes while each beam section is lifted from the interstate up to the new 324 bridge. We are planning to stop traffic six times each day as beams are hoisted into place. This work is very sensitive to the wind and could be delayed for that reason."

Setting the new bridge beams over I-85 north will occur in early 2011.

The project widens the existing two lane roadway to a four lane divided highway from the current end for approximately 0.8 mile across Interstate 85. This construction project will complete the widening of SR 324 from SR 20 to SR 124.

The estimated construction cost is $11.2 million. The project is 39% complete and on schedule for its completion date of May 31, 2012. Strickland and Sons Pipeline Inc., of Gainesville is the project's contractor.