GDOT: Portions of driving surface on new Exit 14 overpass will have to be removed, reworked

Construction crews are going to have to back-track and re-do some of the work on the new Exit 14 overpass over I-985 in South Hall County. 

 

Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) spokeswoman Katie Strickland said when the driving surface underwent recent testing, they discovered three of the four spans on the driving surface of the bridge were not up to specifications for strength.

 

"Obviously, this is why we test materials, this is why we test driving surfaces on bridges," Strickland said. "The concrete that was poured just did not reach its designed compressive strength that we require."

 

Strickland said there is a test performed before concrete is poured, but there are tests that happen after the concrete has set; it was during those tests that inspectors discovered the failed concrete.

 

She said the contractor will bear the financial responsibility for removing the failed concrete and replacing it. 

 

"Yes, this means that they'll have to re-do what they just built, but because it was a materials failure and we discovered it in time, this is not going to cost the taxpayers any more money. This is not something where we'll adjust a price...this is going to be worked out with the contractor," Strickland said.

 

Strickland said removal of the failed concrete should begin in April, and the work will be done at night for safety purposes.

 

"It [the removal] won't be blasting, but they will use water pressure to take off that concrete from those spans and then they would re-pour it," Strickland said.

 

As far as the timeline for completion of the entire project, Strickland doesn't think there will be a delay in the finish date. She said GDOT still expects the overpass and the new interchange at Martin Bridge Road to be finished by fall 2019.