GEMA/HS Dispatch June 2017 Edition | Page 9

COLLAPSE to address Atlanta traffic crisis while engineers planned the reconstruction. “Fifteen to twenty engineers worked throughout the weekend and developed the plans for the entire bridge replacement in three days,” said GDOT Chief Engineer Meg Pirkle. “We have a very talented staff of structural engineers, and the progress was amazing.” On May 10, Governor Nathan Deal, along with GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry and State Transportation Board Chairman Robert L. Brown Jr., announced the reopening of I-85 by morning rush hour on May 15. The new opening date was nearly two weeks earlier than GDOT’s most recent commitment of Memorial Day weekend, and five weeks ahead of the original projected opening date of June 15. The announcement was welcome news to metro area commuters, and comes only six weeks after the roadway was initially closed. “We have been laser-focused not only on rapid construction, but also on safety and efficiency,” said McMurry. “Six weeks is an amazingly short timeframe to complete this project. At the same time, it is probably the most inspected, most scrutinized construction project Georgia DOT has ever undertaken , with our inspectors working on site around the clock. We did our due diligence each day and every step of the way.” With the roadway now open, GDOT can look ahead to other projects and continue in their mission to improve roadways and increase mobility across the state.