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.