The coronavirus pandemic shut down a lot of businesses in the last year, but it didn't stop road construction project across the state.
That's the assessment Tuesday from Russell McMurry, the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation.
McMurry said traffic volume, which was down significant during the early days of the pandemic, has returned to nearly normal.
"It's really come back," he said of traffic. "Really since November or so, it's been pretty much the same as before."
He said the return of traffic volumes to pre-pandemic levels is the sign of a strong economy.
McMurry and Kelvin Mullins, the District 1 engineer, provided updates Tuesday on a number of bridge placements and road projects at the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce's annual transportation forum. For the second year in a row, the event was held virtually.
Here are some updates on other road projects in the area provided at Tuesday's forum:
INTERSTATE 85 WIDENING: McMurry said Phase II of the project, which widens I-85 to six lanes to the U.S. 129 exit in Jefferson, should be completed by next year. The DOT will then begin the third phase, which will widen the interstate to six lanes up to U.S. 441 in Commerce. That section should be finished by 2024.
INTERSTATE 985 WIDENING: McMurry said the plans to widening I-985 to six lanes has hit a snag. Engineers said the transition from a widened I-985 southbound to I-85 would require additional widening of I-85 to at least Sugarloaf Parkway.
"It's a real disappointment and a setback," he said. "I wish I had better news."
Federal regulations require the state to show that whatever projects it builds will support traffic flows for at least 20 years. McMurry said without widening I-85 further at the junction with I-985, the state couldn't meet that requirement.
U.S. 129 WIDENING: The $45 million to widening about a seven-mile stretch of U.S. 129 is on target t be finished in August. When finished, the entire stretch of U.S. 129 from Gainesville to Athens will be four lanes.
SARDIS ROAD CONNECTOR: Hall County has begun right-of-way acquisition for the so-called Sardis Road Connector that will link Dawsonville Highway and Thompson Bridge Road with a new four-lane road.
JESSE JEWELL/QUEEN CITY PARKWAY PROJECT: Work is nearly completed at the intersection of Jesse Jewell Parkway and Queen City Parkway in Gainesville. The $16 million project of intersection improvements should be completed in August.
BROWNS BRIDGE: The $28 million project to replace the bridge over Lake Lanier on Browns Bridge Road is expected to be completed sometime next month, McMurry said.
GA. 53 BRIDGE: The project to replace the Lake Lanier bridge on Ga. 53 should be completed by the end of 2022. It will cost $20 million.
GA. 365/HOWARD ROAD: This project, designed to make the intersection of Ga. 365 and Howard Road safer, is currently in the design phase.
The project essentially would eliminate the intersection by closing the median. Drivers on White Sulphur Road could still access Lanier Tech via an overpass that would be constructed south of the intersection. Drivers would cross Ga. 365 on the bridge, then tie into Lanier Tech Drive by way of a roundabout.
Drivers on White Sulphur and Howard roads could still access Ga. 365 at the old intersection, but they would only be allowed to make right turns onto the highway. No traffic would cross the road at that intersection.
Mullins said funding for the construction is expected in 2024.
GREEN STREET: The city of Gainesville will open bid later this month for the design of improvements along the Green Street corridor, said City Manager Bryan Lackey. Preliminary plans call for a roundabout at the Green Street/E.E. Butler Boulevard/Academy Street intersection and a median down the middle of the street.
Other changes, including a ban on left turns, are also expected. A roundabout at the Green Street/Thompson Bridge Road/Riverside Drive intersection has been scrapped. Exactly what will happen at that intersection hasn't been decided.
