‘Bundled’ bridges to be built in Southwest Georgia

TIFTON – The Georgia Department of Transportation is using a new and innovative method to accelerate the replacement of 25 bridges throughout the state, including four in Southwest Georgia.

The replacement bridges are valued at more than $39.6 million and were included in statewide construction contracts awarded earlier this month. The method, known as bridge bundles, uses five design-build contracts that each packages four to six bridge replacements geographically. This allows the contractor to efficiently streamline delivery by combining design and construction activities for the bridges in their bundled contract. This concept is especially suitable in rural areas.

Southwest Georgia counties that will benefit from $8 million in bridge replacement projects are:

• Atkinson County – Cogdell Road at Red Bluff Creek, 8.5 miles southeast of Pearson, $1.7 million; bridge built in 1953.

• Ben Hill County – Perry House Road at Willacoochee Creek, 3.7 miles south of Fitzgerald, $1.8 million; bridge built in 1962.

• Grady County – Old Thomasville Road at Barnetts Creek at the Thomas County line, $3 million; bridge built in 1960.

• Tift County – Lower Brookfield Road at New River, five miles southeast of Tifton, $1.5 million; bridge built in 1959.

The four local bridges were bundled with a bridge replacement project in Ware County, which is adjacent to Atkinson County. Southern Concrete Construction Co. of Albany is the contractor. An offsite detour will be allowed for up to 210 days per bridge, and the contractor has up to 1,095 days to complete all bridges in the bundled contract. This allows the new bridges to open to traffic as quickly as possible.