As part of its plan to improve state Route 316, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is overseeing a project to extend limited access along state Route 316 in the vicinity of Lawrenceville, one of the oldest cities in the Atlanta area and county seat of Gwinnett County.
The job involves reconstruction of the two signalized intersections at Collins Hill Road and state Route 20 into a single interchange serving both roads. Provision of collector distributor lanes (long ramps) will allow vehicles on state Route 316 to access Collins Hill Road or state Route 20 more easily than at present.
The $37.4 million project also includes construction of bridges at Collins Hill Road and at the point where state Route 20 crosses state Route 316, as well as seven traffic signals, five of which are new. The signals will be interconnected for synchronization, permitting the easy passage of traffic moving along the corridor.
According to GDOT, completion of the 2.2 mi. (3.5 km) job will result in improvements in both efficiency and safety by separating traffic via the interchange, as well as improving capacity by extending the currently limited access east of state Route 20.
G.P.’s Enterprises Inc., based in Auburn, Ga., is prime contractor for the job.
“Traffic density in the construction area is unusually heavy, but that’s why we are building the project. When done, it should relieve congestion in the area to a great extent,” noted Minton O’Neal, chief operating officer of the company. “In addition, the project will lower the existing state Route 316 by approximately 22 ft. (6.7 m) and the current ’at grade intersections’ will become bridges over state Route 316. We will be working to lower the roadway while maintaining four lanes of traffic at all times.”
Work began in November 2011, with a contract completion date of Dec. 31, 2014.
Although some difficulties have been experienced, the company has been able to quickly resolve them.
“There are some unusual utility conflicts which are being addressed in a cooperative manner between GDOT, the utility owners and ourselves. This project, thus far, has been free of major problems. The GDOT district office, the utility owners, and the subcontractors have been cooperative in keeping the project moving,” O’Neal stated.
At present the company is moving earth and building sub grade for the roadway improvement project and installing storm water management systems and other utilities. For this work they are utilizing a large equipment fleet.
“We have many, many pieces of equipment on the project. Hydraulic excavators, scrapers, motorgraders, bulldozers, tandem dump trucks, articulated off-road dump trucks, compactors, wheel loaders, etc....too many and too many manufacturers to mention,” said O’Neal.
Approximately 40 of G.P.’s Enterprises’ employees are working on the job. Subcontractors include Baldwin Paving Inc., of Kennesaw, Ga., which will be handling asphalt paving; Rogers Bridge Company Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, which will construct the two bridges; and Norcross, Ga.-based Detection Engineering Technology Inc., which will be carrying out traffic signal and ATMS systems work.
About the Company
G.P.’s Enterprises Inc., was founded in 1984 and incorporated in 1988 by George P. Flanigan, president and owner. The company self-performs clearing, grading, utility, sub-base, roadway base and concrete structures associated with the construction of highways and airports. In addition, it performs site grading and civil work associated with vertical construction.
The company has completed numerous projects for GDOT involving building capacity and improving congestion, including a project in Houston County in 2010. It recently completed the Jennings Mill Parkway/ Oconee Connector project in greater Athens, Ga., and has almost completed its work with the Eagles Landing Parkway project in Henry County, Ga. Jobs under construction include the East Hiram Connector in Paulding County, Barrett Parkway in Cobb County and Lithonia Industrial Boulevard in Dekalb County.
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