FHWA Administrator Lauds I-75 Resurfacing Project in Atlanta Completed Ahead of Schedule |
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Topics: Victor Mendez, Interstate Highway System
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Federal Highway Administration
12 July 2011
FHWA 30-11
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Contact: Nancy Singer
Tel: 202-366-0660
Work on Major Artery Did Not Disrupt Weekday Traffic
ATLANTA - Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez today saw firsthand how Atlanta drivers were spared months of traffic congestion during a busy summer construction season and are enjoying a smoother ride on newly paved interstate because work on I-75 was completed ahead of schedule.
Mendez, who was briefed on the project by Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Vance Smith Jr, hailed the I-75 resurfacing as an example of successful project delivery in transportation.
"During what is already a busy construction season here, Atlanta drivers did not have to deal with lane closures and congestion during the hot summer months, and they now have an upgraded highway," Mendez said. "This project shows how planning and partnership can go a long way in improving the way we do business and bringing highway projects to the public sooner rather than later."
I-75 is a major commuter corridor in the Atlanta region and carries approximately 300,000 vehicles a day. The 8.86 mile project, which runs between the I-75/I-85 and I-75/I-285 interchanges, was completed three months ahead of schedule.
The work took place at night and on weekends, with additional workers, to avoid disruption to drivers during peak travel times. Shoulder and ramp closures were used during the off-peak hours to avoid full road closures on the mainline. In addition, the resurfacing only took four weekends, instead of the planned eight, because the work on both northbound and southbound sections happened at the same time.
The project used $17 million in Federal-aid funds, of which $14 million is American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding. All of Georgia's ARRA funds in the amount of $902.6 million have been obligated toward 398 projects throughout the state.