This project provided design of widening Union Grove Road, design of a new interchange on I-75 at the existing Union Grove Road bridge overpass, and design of a new 6-mile southern bypass of Calhoun, Georgia.
South Calhoun Bypass is six miles of new alignment through generally undeveloped terrain that will provide improved connectivity for both west and east Calhoun to I-75 via a new diamond interchange. The new interchange allows trucks from nearby industrial distribution centers to access I-75 more easily and reduces truck traffic on SR 53, the road previously used by truckers to reach the distribution centers. This new interchange will help Gordon County attract new business into their area.
The interchange was approved with FHWA through the completion of an IJR (Interchange Justification Report). Several operational and safety alternates were studied and concept designs developed for the interchange including stop conditions, signalized intersections, and roundabout intersections at the head of the exit and entrance ramps. As part of our design, H&L designed frontage road realignments for Bellwood Road and Johnson Lake Road along the east side of Interstate 75. The typical section for the frontage road is two 12-foot travel lanes with 10-foot rural shoulders.
The South Calhoun Bypass project included three bridges – one over Bray Road, one over Union Grove Church Road, and one over McDaniel Station Road, CSX Transportation, and the Oothkalooga Creek. The Union Grove Road Interchange project included a new bridge over I-75. This bridge is part of the bypass as well.
Heath & Lineback (H&L) was responsible for complete design services – survey, traffic, geotechnical, and environmental study as well as road and bridge design.