It’s been a year and a half process, but the new interchange ramps at exit 14 off I-985 are just a few months away from completion.
Once complete, the roadway will connect the intersection of Martin Road and Falcon Parkway (SR-13) to Thurmond Tanner Parkway and H.F. Reed Industrial Parkway.
Katie Strickland with the Department of Transportation said the $34 million project will be a 4-lane divided highway separated by a concrete median and will create a quicker commute for people traveling to the Flowery Branch area.
“It’s a really important thoroughfare. It’s going to be something that not only helps grow economically, but it’s going to grow safety and operation and get people where they’re going faster,” Strickland said.
The northbound ramps are the closest to completion, but because of the bridgework connecting the southbound ramps, the project required more time Strickland said. Generally, bridge construction can take anywhere from 8 months to a year to complete, she said.
“This is a staged construction,” Strickland said. “We have a stage one, stage two and stage 3. Right now, we are at stage 2, so stage 3 is quickly approaching as we come into the summer months,” she said.
A materials failure required re-pavement of the bridge, a project Strickland said will take place in the next couple weeks. The bridge will be paved at nighttime, so late-night drivers can expect to see single-lane closures, she said.
The overall project continues to move along with a completion date of August 2019.
>>Watch the video above for a look at the construction work
Transportation Tip Thursday is a periodic feature where we discuss all things transportation for AccessWDUN’s coverage area.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2019/4/784183/transportation-tip-thursday-exit-14-set-to-open-august-2019