Georgia Department of Transportation has awarded 20 contracts for statewide transportation projects totaling $52,294,947.14. These projects were advertised in April, bids were received on May 18; and contracts were awarded on June 1 to the lowest qualified bidder.
 
Resurfacing represents 61 percent of the awarded funds and includes two high-value contracts in south and northwest Georgia along Interstate 75.
 
In Crisp and Turner counties, a $19.2 million contract was awarded for 14.5 miles of resurfacing on I-75. This segment was last resurfaced during a widening/reconstruction project completed in 2003. A 29-mile resurfacing contract was also awarded for $10.3 million on I-75 in Bartow County. While this portion of roadway was last resurfaced in 2007, deterioration of the riding surface necessitated GDOT to advance the schedule and condense the normal one year resurfacing timeframe; early completion is anticipated for Dec. 31, 2018.
 
In Northeast Georgia’s Lumpkin County, a $4.7 million contract was awarded for construction of a modern roundabout to replace the existing Y-intersection at US 19/State Route 9 and State Route 60. The project, designed to enhance safety and improve traffic flow, will also accommodate trucks. The contractor is C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc. and the anticipated completion date is Oct. 31, 2019.

The roundabout will be built around the Trahlyta’s Grave Stonepile. A barrier fence will ensure that the historically significant site is not disturbed during construction. The existing Trahlyta’s Grave Historical Marker will be stored during construction. 
 
State Senator Steve Gooch is a sixth generation native of Lumpkin County who grew up about two miles from Stone Pile Gap. “In fact, I remember stories from my grandmother whose parents owned and operated a general store at that location in the early 1900s,” Gooch said. “Throughout my childhood and now my adult life, I have seen and heard of numerous traffic accidents due to the confusion and unusual design of the two roads at the Highway 60 and Highway 19 merger. I believe these much needed improvements will have a significant impact and will reduce accidents and save lives.”
 
With nearly one-third of fatal crashes in Georgia occurring at intersections and almost half of those a result of angle collisions, roundabouts provide fewer conflict points and result in fewer collisions than traditional intersections. To learn about how roundabouts work and their safety features, visit www.dot.ga.gov/roundabouts.

Other awarded contracts include:

• A $6.5 million bridge replacement project to replace two structurally deficient bridges in Houston County on State Route 247 over Big Indian Creek and its overflow. The current bridges were built in 1959. The new construction includes wider travel lanes and wider shoulders. An on-site detour will be used during construction.

• A $3.3 million safety project in Muscogee County, along 9.8 miles of US 80/State Route 22 from the Alabama state line, was awarded for the expansion of the Navigator Intelligent Transportation System. The project will install ramp meters, CCTV (closed-circuit) traffic cameras, vehicle detection systems and roadway dynamic message signs, used by the Transportation Management Center for traffic monitoring and to support the Navigator 511 map.

• Safety upgrades for traffic signals, pavement markings, signing and striping - many are located on off-system county roads.

The awards bring the 11-month Fiscal Year 2018 total construction contracts to $887 million. FY 18 began July 1.