I-20 bridges to be replaced in massive, two-state project (Savannah: 2015, construction)

[Airforceguy]

I'm glad these bridges are finally being replaced. On another note, traffic getting from Augusta to North Augusta will be a pain for a few years because not only with these bridges be replaced, but the 5th Street Bridge will be rehabbed in 2019 and the 13th Street will be replaced in 2021.

The new, $75 million dollar plan is to widen the Interstate from two to three lanes from the Riverwatch Parkway exit in Georgia, to the Martintown road exit in South Carolina. Some who travel across the bridges often say the bridges are too narrow and need to be replaced. Truck driver, Tony Taylor says, “Two trucks crossing at the same time, you’ve only got maybe a foot, foot and a half between the mirrors on the trucks. So it definitely needs to be replaced, something needs to be done.” Brenda Davalie, another frequent I-20 traveler says, “They need a new bridge there because it’s narrow and it’s old and just for safety purposes. I agree, they should change that or redo it or get a new bridge or whatever.”

The GDOT says the new bridges will alleviate traffic congestion during wrecks on the bridges. Kyle Collins, a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Transportation says, “If there is an incident, plenty of room for emergency personnel and officials to get the vehicles involved in the accident off the travel ways. So there’s plenty of room on the inside and outside shoulder to do that, to get traffic back flowing quicker than it is now.”

This project is still a ways off. Bids for the project will be released in 2018, and construction should start in 2019.

I-20 bridges to be replaced in massive, two-state project

[jabbolito]

75 million seems very high to me !

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by jabbolito

75 million seems very high to me !

Unfortunately, it is pay that price now, or wait around to pay more later.

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

I'm glad these bridges are finally being replaced. On another note, traffic getting from Augusta to North Augusta will be a pain for a few years because not only with these bridges be replaced, but the 5th Street Bridge will be rehabbed in 2019 and the 13th Street will be replaced in 2021.

Although a long detour, Interstate 520 will be very useful during the bridge replacements.

[Newsboy]

They need to widen the I-95 bridges over the Savannah River as well, to eliminate the bottleneck of going from 3 lanes in Georgia to 2 lanes into South Carolina. That's a much busier stretch than I-20.

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

They need to widen the I-95 bridges over the Savannah River as well, to eliminate the bottleneck of going from 3 lanes in Georgia to 2 lanes into South Carolina. That's a much busier stretch than I-20.

That bridge needs widening too, but the I-20 bridge is more about safety and lives then actual travel lanes. So many wrecks have ended up in the water and with very little to no inner and outer shoulder, first responders have a hard time saving accident victims.

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

They need to widen the I-95 bridges over the Savannah River as well, to eliminate the bottleneck of going from 3 lanes in Georgia to 2 lanes into South Carolina. That's a much busier stretch than I-20.

South Carolina Department of Transportation needs to plan on widening Interstate 95 in South Carolina.

[PJA]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

They need to widen the I-95 bridges over the Savannah River as well, to eliminate the bottleneck of going from 3 lanes in Georgia to 2 lanes into South Carolina. That's a much busier stretch than I-20.

According to the SCDot the average traffic on I-20 from the state line to SC 230 is 57,700 while on 95 from the state line to us 17 is lower at 53,700.

According to the GDot site the average traffic on I-20 from east of 520 to the state line was 60,100 while on I-95 from Sr 21 to the state line was 55,600.

This was data from 2015. There appears to be about 4 to 5,000 more vehicles traveling over the i-20 bridge than the 95 bridge which is likely why that one is being done first as well as the amount of accidents that have occurred.

[River_Dawg]

This will be for the metro. shut the bridge down, all that traffic east and west must go thru the Augusta bypass(520).

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by River_Dawg

This will be for the metro. shut the bridge down, all that traffic east and west must go thru the Augusta bypass(520).

At least the SC portion would finally get some use. Everytime I travel that part it's always empty.