AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – In an effort to make Georgia Highway 56 safer the Georgia Department of Transportation began road work at the end of 2013. The finish date for the project was set for September 2016.
Due to weather delays the $28 million dollar project completion date was pushed back to December 2nd, 2016, of course that date is set as long as the weather cooperates.
Mike Padgett Highway has been known as one of the most dangerous roads in Augusta, Georgia. A study done by the Georgia Department of Transportation shows a high number of accidents every year on the highway, some even deadly.
“I had a young lady turning into Forest Club Road here and the truck just ran right up her tail pipe and killed her,” said Chris Kuneman, the owner of Rack and Grill II.
That’s why the Georgia Department of Transportation is making changes to the highway. The project will include new signals, a center median to keep cars from crossing over into the next lane, sidewalk and extended paved shoulders for emergencies.
“Which will give folks if they do have car trouble or for emergency response to make sure there is room for the folks to safely get off the roadway,” said D.O.T East Central Region District Communications Coordinator Kyle Collins.
Yet, the new additions to make the road safer can’t get done soon enough for some drivers.
“It’s going to be nice, but right now crossing back and forth and the zigzagging coming down through there,” Bobby Mills, a former employee of Plant Vogtle told WJBF News Channel 6.
“Oh it’s going to be much improved when they finish, but until then it’s a mess,” Kuneman said.
A big holdup in the project also comes from the environmental concerns near the area of two proposed bridges, at Spirit Creek and Little Spirit Creek.
“We are waiting for some of the endangered species to get out of their breeding season,” Collins told WJBF News Channel 6.
Crews from the Georgia Department of Transportation and the contractor are out everyday making sure the cones and other traffic control devices are setup properly. They will continue to do that until the project is finished.
It’s important to note that the speed limit in the construction zones on Mike Padgett Highway is 35 miles per hour.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – In an effort to make Georgia Highway 56 safer the Georgia Department of Transportation began road work at the end of 2013.
The finish date for the project was set for of September of 2016. Now due to weather delays the $28 million dollar project completion date was pushed back to December of 2016, of course that date is set as long as the weather cooperates.
Mike Padgett Highway has been known as one of the most dangerous roads in Augusta. A study done by the Georgia Department of Transportation shows high numbers of accidents were happening every year, many even deadly. So to make the highway safer the road widening project includes new signals, a center median to keep cars from crossing over into the next lane, sidewalks and extended paved shoulders for emergencies. Yet, the new additions to make the road safer can’t get done soon enough for some drivers.
“It’s going to be nice, but right now crossing back and forth and zigzagging going down through there,” said former Plant Vogtle employee Bobby Mills.
“Oh it’s going to be much improved when they finish, but until then it’s a mess,” Owner of the Rack and Grill II, Chris Kuneman said.
It’s important to note that the speed limit in the construction zone on Mike Padgett Highway is 35 miles per hour. The Georgia Department of Transportation as well as the contractor, Reeves Construction, are out on Highway 56 everyday making sure the cones and other traffic control devices are set up properly. They will continue to do that until the project is finished.