Georgia DOT awards $18 million for bridge construction project in Muscogee County
A Muscogee County bridge construction project received the largest single investment the Georgia Department of Transportation awarded in September, according to a news release.
The Georgia DOT invested $166 million in construction contracts during that month, of which around $18 million was awarded to C.W. Matthews Contracting Company for the construction of a bridge and approaches on US 27 ALT over Miller Road, the release said.
There are currently two bridges over Miller Road that will be replaced, said Georgia DOT communications spokesperson Gina Snider. The location is a major route for travel, she said, and the project will ensure the corridor can continue to serve motorists for years to come.
In addition to being replaced, the bridges will be realigned slightly to the north west, Snider said. And the project will be performed in phases as the bridges are built.
As the lowest bidder, C.W. Matthews received the contract to reconstruct the bridges. Projects like this from the Georgia DOT are a lifeline for the company, C.W. Matthews President Dan Garcia told the Ledger-Enquirer. The bridge construction is one of a few projects the C.W. Matthews has in the Columbus area, he said, and will allow the company to grow their operations in the region.
“It also means we are actively seeking new employees and hope to hire most of the employees needed for this project locally,” Garcia said
He encourages local residents interested in working on the project to visit www.cwmatthews.com to learn more about employment opportunities.
Construction will start after the Georgia DOT issues a Notice to Proceed to C.W. Matthews, Snider said. When this happens, the public will be notified by a news release and on social media. The construction is expected to last a few years, she said.
The remainder of 2022 will be occupied with the administrative process, Garcia said. He anticipates that the installation of construction signs, the initial survey and utility works will begin in 2023, and major construction activities will start in late spring or early summer next year.
Garcia asks that residents who will travel through the construction area to be cautious and courteous to C.W. Matthews employees.
“This is their office,” he said. “And just like everyone else they are trying to get their job complete so that they can go home to their friends and family.”
This bridge construction contract, along with two other bridge construction contracts, make up 48% of the funds the Georgia DOT awarded in September, the news release reads. Resurfacing contracts made up 32% of the investments, safety projects represented 19% and the last 1% went to widening turn lanes in Clayton County.
“Our mission statement is ‘Getting Georgia Home,’” Garcia said. “And we take great pride in building the infrastructure that allows the residents of Georgia to do just that.”
This story was originally published November 7, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
