35 FEBRUARY 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® www.starironworks.com 257 Caroline Street Punxsutawney, PA 15767 800-927-0560 • 814-427-2555 Fax: 814-427-5164 SERVINGTHECONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Serving the Drilling Industry Transforming a Busy Highway in Metro Atlanta Compiled by Editorial Staff, Worldwide Drilling Resource® Amajor upgrade led by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is in progress for the I-285 at GA 400 interchange. A multiyear coordinated construction time frame will add roadway capacity; improve traffic flow, safety, and access; and generate opportunity for new investments in the area. The Transform 285/400 project kicked off in February 2017 and entered its most transformative phase in October 2022. This stage included replacing a series of 50-year-old structures. Bridges over Glenridge Drive, SR 400, and Peachtree Dunwoody Road were all rebuilt in this phase. Georgia managed this endeavor through a public-private partnership with developer, North Perimeter Contractors (NPC). Design and construction were handled by NPC, while GDOT is responsible for operation and maintenance of the roadway once construction improvements are complete. NPC contracted Precision Blasting to perform drilling and blasting services. Scope of this work included removing areas of rock east of Perimeter Center Parkway on I-285. These operations were necessary to allow contractors to construct a retaining wall. Blasting was carried out over about four weeks and required coordination between multiple agencies to ensure traffic control. Protection measures such as noise barriers, along with traffic pacing and stopping were put in place during controlled blasts. Safety was the top priority, and this portion of the project was successfully completed on time with no issues. Funding for theTransform 285/400 project came from a combination of state, federal, and local sources, as well as private-partner financing. Local contributions from community partners included $10 million from the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, $1 million from the PATH Foundation, and an additional $2.25 million from the city of Sandy Springs for bridge, bicycle, and pedestrian enhancements. The completed project is expected to save the average commuter eight hours a year and reduce delays by over 12,500 hours per day. Several hospitals and medical facilities in the area are among those set to benefit from these improvements. Construction is anticipated to continue until summer of this year, with sections of the project being opened as they are finished. Photo of drilling and blasting operations courtesy of Precision Blasting. C&G
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