GDOT Crews Open All I-20 Westbound Lanes in Record Time

ATLANTA – After the unexpected buckling of the road surface and subsequent lane closure on Interstate 20 westbound between Flat Shoals and Gresham Roadson Monday, Georgia DOT crews worked through the night and opened all lanes to traffic by 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday—fewer than 19 hours after the first reports of the incident.
The damage was caused by utility work being performed beneath the roadway by Atlanta Gas Light (AGL). “AGL had a permit to jack and bore 525 feet of a 36 inch high pressure steel gas main under I-20 and also 920 feet along Cook Road, which runs parallel to I-20,” said State Utilities Engineer Patrick Allen.  “Both the state and district utilities offices did a thorough and in-depth review of the permit request, deemed the request met all state requirements and that the work was a safe distance beneath the roadway. As a result, a permit was granted to AGL in August 2016.”
Permits are routinely granted to utility companies to work within the state’s right of way.  Unlike a regular permit, interstate crossing permits go through a dual review process within the requested district and then to the state utilities office for further review and approval.  Aerial and underground interstate crossings are typical permits issued by the Department.
After initial notification of the damage at 11:45 a.m. Monday, Metro Atlanta district maintenance crews were dispatched to the site to determine the scope of work and possible repairs needed. Within 45 minutes, GDOT crews analyzed the initial cause of the damage and determined the need for a contractor. Pittman Construction Company was on the scene by 12:30 p.m. to begin assessing necessary repairs. The contractor worked with GDOT crews to begin an exploratory process to determine the scope of necessary repairs to the concrete pavement.  Upon further investigation, it was revealed that in addition to damage to the pavement, there was damage to a 15-inch drainage pipe under the roadway.
By 3 p.m. Monday, GDOT engineers and the contractor determined that the drainage system (a line of pipe) had to be replaced, and they began the arduous work to break up and remove large slabs of concrete and dirt, the most time consuming part of the work.  By 4:30 p.m., crews secured the proper piping, began laying the pipe and making the repairs.
“At approximately 9:30 p.m. the pipe had been placed and compaction completed and crews began the final stages of prepping the surface to pour the concrete slabs for the roadway repair,” said Kathy Zahul, Metro Atlanta District Engineer.
Concrete slabs were poured an hour ahead of schedule, completing that process at 1 a.m. on Tuesday.  The use of “rapid setting concrete” for fast curing and drying of the concrete allowed the roadway to be opened to traffic quicker than if regular curing concrete was used.
By 4:50 a.m., crews cut joints in the concrete slabs to allow for contraction and expansion throughout the life of the pavement.  This process controls cracking and deterioration of the concrete, allowing for a longer service life and reduced maintenance needs.
After the roadway was temporarily striped, it was completely opened to traffic at 6:30 a.m.
“I cannot overemphasize how proud we are of our employees and their commitment to the motorists of Atlanta,” Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry, P.E. said. “This was something that could not be planned for and, once again, our team rose to the challenge and did what needed to be done.”
GDOT will pursue reimbursements for the costs and expenditures related to the repair of damage to I-20 westbound lanes.
The Georgia Department of Transportation encourages motorists to pay attention whenever they drive – to put down the phone, buckle up and drive alert. And in roadway work zones – slow down, watch for workers and always expect the unexpected. Work zone safety is in your hands.