Tidewater Skanska was awarded a $199 million project from the Georgia Department of Transportation to reconstruct a section of Interstate 95 in Brunswick, GA, located in the southeastern part of the state near the Florida border.

The scope of work for the project includes widening of 5.72 mi. (9.2 km) of the roadway in order to expand the highway from four to six lanes. Included in the work will be grading, new storm drainage systems and laying base and plant mix for the new lanes. Also included in the contract is construction of four double bridges and approaches. Signage, electrical and ITS (intelligent transportation systems) will also be installed by the project team. The work site begins south of Turtle River and extends north.

One of the bridges being constructed will cross over CSX rail lines, another over U.S. 341 and another will cross over Gibson Creek. The main span, which traverses the Turtle River, will be 3,500 ft. (1,070 m) long when it is completed.

Construction of the bridges and roadway will require construction of 19,000 linear ft. (5,800 m) of 54 in. (140 cm) diameter drilled caissons, 34,000 linear ft. (10,400 m) of 60 in. (152 cm) diameter drilled caissons, 5,000 linear ft. (1,525 m) of cast-in-place retaining walls and 133,000 sq. ft. (12,400 sq m) of sound barrier walls.

For roadway construction, 160,000 tons (145,000 t) of asphalt, 116,000 sq. yds. (97,000 sq m) of concrete paving and 300,000 sq. yds. (250,000 sq m) of aggregate base will be required.

The contract requires that workers maintain a diligent watch for the endangered manatees that are known to inhabit the area. If one of the endangered animals is spotted, work must immediately cease until the manatee leaves the area.

There are already a substantial amount of contracts under construction in the area so close coordination with other contractors, engineers and the client will be an on-going consideration for this assignment.

I-95 is one longest in the nation’s interstate highway system. It begins in Florida and traverses the entire eastern seaboard until it terminates near Canada. However, population growth and tourism throughout the area has resulted in the need for increased capacity on the highway. The Georgia/Florida leg of I-95 has been targeted by Federal Transportation officials as being one section of the highway that requires substantial widening.

The project, funded in part by federal transit dollars, is scheduled for completion in October 2009.

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