Why will the dump truck cross the road in Oconee County?

WHY WILL THE DUMP TRUCK CROSS THE ROAD IN WATKINSVILLE?

Watkinsville, Ga. – Georgia DOT announces dump trucks will cross the road to move dirt across Mars Hill Road. Daily traffic impacts will begin Thursday for the widening of Mars Hill Road in Watkinsville, if weather allows.

“The plan is for crews to haul dirt in dump trucks across Mars Hill Road between Hodges Mill Road and Riverhaven Lane. Traffic will flow freely through the area until a dump truck is ready to cross, then Mars Hill traffic will be momentarily stopped as the dump truck crosses the road. Hauling dirt and intermittent flagging will occur for about seven days as weather permits. This work cannot occur during the rain or when the ground is saturated. The current forecast shows a high chance of rain of Friday and Saturday. Mondays through Thursdays lane closures or flagging traffic can only occur between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. in this area. Since this isn’t Football Season, weekends work can occur from Friday nights at 7p.m. to 6 a.m. Mondays although this work will only occur during daylight hours,” explained Harold Mull, Georgia DOT District Construction Engineer.

The project will widen Mars Hill Road/Oconee Connector from State Route 316 to State Route 53/Hog Mountain Road improving mobility locally in Watkinsville and for the region in to and out of Clarke County. The new road will have four lanes that are 12 feet wide with a 20 feet wide grassy median. It will also have bike lanes and a sidewalk in each direction. As part of the project, a new bridge will be built over Barber Creek, replacing the existing bridge was built in 1944. 

G.P.’s Enterprises of Auburn, Georgia is the Project’s Contractor. The contract completion date for this 3.299 mile long project is March 31, 2018 and the contract cost is $26.3 million.

If you would like to receive email updates on the project please call Teri Pope at 770-718-3924 or email her at tpope@dot.ga.gov