The Flowing Wells Road improvements project is one of two TIA-funded endeavors currently in construction that are focused on growing corridors extending from Interstate 20 in Columbia County. As the county's residential and economic bases grow, so does the traffic. The Flowing Wells Road project is currently 65% complete, but a lot of work is still happening - and it's happening all throughout the project, from beginning to end.
When a roadway is widened, a variety of work crews are activated to do everything from excavating land in the new right-of-way to moving utility lines, from to constructing new concrete curb and gutter, to laying the new asphalt. Below you can see a utility crew working at the corner of Flowing Wells Road and Wheeler Road, surrounded by cars and trucks passing through the busy intersection. Moving a bit west on Wheeler Road, a signal team member provides additional safety while directing the flow of vehicles alongside a number of work units.
When a roadway is widened, a variety of work crews are activated to do everything from excavating land in the new right-of-way to moving utility lines, from to constructing new concrete curb and gutter, to laying the new asphalt. Below you can see a utility crew working at the corner of Flowing Wells Road and Wheeler Road, surrounded by cars and trucks passing through the busy intersection. Moving a bit west on Wheeler Road, a signal team member provides additional safety while directing the flow of vehicles alongside a number of work units.
You may not see some of the smaller teams on the roadsides. The masonry workers have shielded themselves from traffic by parking their truck directly behind their portion of the work zone. Some concrete teams are off the roadway but on commercial property sites. When large construction projects affect business driveways and other infrastructure, the projects' plans must include tasks to restore the facilities in good or better condition.
Some crews are right out in the roadways as well. The orange-and-white barrels and delineators aren't placed just to add some attractive color to the corridor - they're an integral part of the project's safety plan. Rather than close a lane altogether, usable lane space is sometimes narrowed just enough to allow vehicles to pass through but also provide a slim work zone for the crews. In these cases, it's very important for drivers to slow their speeds, to remain alert and to keep some space from other vehicles to prevent possible accidents.
When driving down a busy, construction-filled corridor, it can be frustrating to have to slow down and carefully make your way through the work zone. Just focus on the future end result: a wider, safer and more efficient roadway that will help Martinez and Columbia County continue to grow and prosper.