Lowndes County...
Reconstruction of I-75 Exit 29 Starts Monday
VALDOSTA – Changes that will impact traffic are coming to Interstate 75 at Exit 29 next week as a Georgia Department of Transportation contractor begins reconstruction of the interchange.
Exit 29 is SR 122 at Hahira. The north and south outside (right) lanes approaching the exit will close at 7 p.m. Monday and reopen before 7 a.m. Tuesday. The outside lanes will reopen once the barrier is in place, but the outside shoulders between the entrance and exit ramps will remain closed for construction of the new overpass.
Construction will also require closing the inside (left) north and south lanes to traffic approaching and traveling under the bridge. The contractor will begin installing a concrete barrier in that location at 7 p.m. Tuesday. This will close the north and south inside lanes and shoulders for the duration of construction. Motorists should expect to see heavy equipment in the area, including a crane, as construction progresses. Motorists will also start seeing right of way clearing at both exits and utility companies on site as they relocate lines, poles, etc.
Reconstructing Exits 29 and 22 will improve traffic flow and capacity and improve visibility for drivers exiting the ramps. The bridges were built in 1960 and the design is outdated for current and projected traffic. Bridges will be widened to four lanes with turn lanes, paved shoulders and concrete medians. Northbound ramps at Exit 22, U.S. 41/SR 7/North Valdosta Road near Valdosta, will be reconstructed as a conventional diamond design. Southbound ramps will remain as is. At Exit 29, all ramps will be a conventional diamond design.
The new bridges will be built adjacent to the existing overpasses, which will not close during construction. Georgia DOT awarded the construction contract to Reames and Son Construction Co. Inc. of Valdosta in June. The completion date for the two interchanges is April 30, 2020 and the construction cost is $49 million.
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