The Atlanta Constitution du lieu suivant : Atlanta, Georgia • 261

CLAYTON EXTRA, SEPTEMBER 17, 1987 .51 Roads wu- Si CZM. FROM 4 6i We're really starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel now. I know people down there have waited a long time for it. Tom Turner pwajrat --fix- 0 common section also increased chances for accidents. "It required a lot of weaving and lane switches," Turner said.

"And other interchanges were just plain complicated." All lanes of traffic existing before construction began have been kept open throughout the process, but sometimes the routes have become convoluted. Perhaps the worst example of redirecting traffic to accommodate construction was forcing northbound drivers on Spur 14 wishing to travel east on 1-285 to first take the Perimeter west for about one mile to the Washington Road exit and backtrack. It is now impossible to simply merge from Spur 14 onto east-bound 1-285 lanes, but new ramps should open by January 1988 and that problem will be solved, Turner said. Work on the common section alone requires seven construction contracts with firms based as far away as Redding, and Black River Falls, and as close as Atlanta. Three other contractors are completing the 1-85 widening south of 1-285, and widening of Highway 74.

Tons of concrete and steel went into building the common section's 26 ramps. And even though the common section is only slightly longer than 1 miles, it contains 67 total lane miles, Turner said. Workers needed to build 45 retaining walls. Of that total, four different kinds of walls were built depending on construction specifications. The basic road surface of the common section and Highway 74 is asphalt, while 1-85 south from the Perimeter to Highway 74 will be concrete.

"The city of College Park police feel fewer fatal accidents have occurred on the common section during construction than before it started," King said. But statistics for fatalities for any period of time on the common section were unavailable. Most right of way was already available for all three projects. Turner believes only one building was claimed to make way for the work a warehouse immediately east of the I-85I-285 interchange just south of Riverdale Road. "Coordination has just been tre- UEOANCYStatt TONS OF CONCRETE: A construction crew works on the westbound ramp of Interstate 285 at Interstate 85 south.

mendous for the realignment of the your kitchen while you're living in "Remain alert" is the best ad-common section," Turner said. "It's it," he said. vice King and Turner can give not always clear to drivers why "If there had been any way of drivers on these three stretches of we're doing certain things, but there stopping the traffic, we would have highway is always a plan. been out of there a long time ago," drive from habit," "This is kind of like remodeling King added. Turner said.

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