Traffic passes under the Highway 27 overpass on the Highway 166 Bypass. Columns have started to go up to support the expansion of the bridge. (Photo by Cliff Williams/Times-Georgian)
Mohamed Arafa, communications officer for the Georgia Department of Transportation, said the $6 million project includes the reconstruction of 166/27 interchange and will shut down a total length of road that is less than a third of a mile.
The reason for the reconstruction and widening, Arafa said, is to reduce congestion on the bridge for vehicles turning left onto the bypass ramp.
Arafa said the project, contracted out to C.W. Matthews Inc., a Marietta-based company, started the last week of August and is on schedule to be completed by the end of November 2013.
“They have mobilized and started, but nothing we describe as ‘earth-disturbing’ has happened yet,” he said.
As for detours and lane closures, Arafa said the information on those will be forthcoming and that his office will work to “let the public know” ahead of time via media and signage.
Tim Grizzard, assistant city manager of Carrollton, said he goes through the construction daily and hasn’t noticed any more traffic backup than what is normal.
“It’s not been too bad because they’ve really just started,” he said. “But once they get more machinery and equipment in there and start really working, there will be lanes closed and traffic will be delayed.”
Grizzard said the lane closures should come in the next couple of months.
Arafa praised the contracting company, saying they are in “good standing” with state DOT and usually get projects done on time and under budget.
“They are a very good, fast, safe company that we’ve relied on numerous times in the past,” he said.
While DOT does not give contractors a certain time frame for starting, it does give them a mandatory completion date.
“These types of projects typically take about a year or a year-and-a-half,” Arafa said. “We have given them a mandatory completion date of Nov. 30, 2013, so construction should begin soon.”
The total cost of the project is scheduled to be $6,055,619 and will be funded by the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).
“These projects under STIP are funded on an 80/20 percentage basis,” Arafa said. “Eighty percent comes from the federal government, and 20 percent comes from the state.”
Arafa said the bridge portion of the project will be funded completely by the federal government.
“None of this will be funded locally,” Arafa said.
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