Following a review of the SR 369 overpass at SR 400 (Exit 18) for potential abnormal settlement and potential subsequent needed repairs on the westside approach to the bridge, officials involved with the SR 369 widening project have provided a video update highlighting the results of data collected, as well as next steps for addressing a required correction.

An On the Move video update can be viewed below with details. Additional information can also be found below the video.

WHY WAS A PORTION OF THE BRIDGE CLOSED?

On June 21, County and State officials announced a closure of the westbound traffic portion of the SR 369/400 overpass (Phase I), while the bridge remained open to traffic with one lane in both directions, to evaluate a potential settlement abnormality and determine any needed corrections. In July, a third-party surveyor, which was not involved with the construction of the overpass, began monitoring the settlement using 50 monitoring points to evaluate any needed modifications due to settlement under the bridge.

WHAT DID THE REVIEW AND DATA REVEAL?

Having thoroughly reviewed monitoring data collected since July, crews from Forsyth County, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and other structural engineering consultants have confirmed the following facts:

• The SR 400 overpass (Exit 18) bridge remains structurally safe; corrections are needed to ensure the full life span of the bridge is achieved.
• Any settlement that was occurring in the west approach ramp embankment has ceased and no further work is necessary regarding previous settlement concerns.
• The bridge’s Phase I westside support cap, located below the approach ramp on the northwest portion of the bridge, experienced cracks due to a bridge layout error by the project’s subcontractor at initial construction.
• The Phase I westside cap requires a replacement.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The project’s initial subcontractor, Baldwin Paving Co., will manage the cap’s replacement and assumes financial responsibility for the required additional work, which was determined to be due to a bridge layout error at initial construction.

HOW WILL THE CAP BE REPLACED?

Crews will remove a portion of Phase I of the bridge (the currently closed portion of the bridge on the northwest quadrant and northwest ramp), including seven beams over SR 400 southbound, to allow access to the cap for replacement.

HOW LONG IS THE WORK ANTICIPATED TO TAKE?

The modification and beam replacement will require an estimated nine months to complete, followed by an additional estimated three months to fully complete the project and open all four lanes of traffic.

HOW WILL THE WORK IMPACT TRAFFIC?

Traffic on SR 369 will continue with one lane in each direction across Phase II (currently open lanes) with no anticipated lane closures throughout the construction process. Phase I of the bridge (the section and lanes currently closed to traffic since June) will remain closed to traffic until the project is complete.

Intermittent overnight lane closures and traffic pacing are anticipated on SR 400, as required, to allow crews to provide the needed modification (no additional lane closures on SR 369 are anticipated).

Any scheduled traffic impacts surrounding the overpass will be announced through the County’s social media channels and website.

“I want to assure all commuters that the bridge was and remains safe, and that this additional work is needed primarily to ensure the bridge’s long-term functionality,” said County Manager David McKee. “Traffic has and will continue to flow in both directions across the southern side of the bridge as the necessary modification is made to the northern side.” 

“We greatly appreciate our community’s patience and understanding as we work with partners on the best traffic solutions for our County.” 

E.R. Snell, as contracted by Baldwin Paving Co., will soon begin work on the necessary modification, which is estimated to take nine months to complete, followed by an additional three months to allow for the road to be tied back in and the bridge’s median to be finished.

“The required modification to the bridge will still allow for traffic to flow in both directions on SR 369 as it has for the past five months, and the work will be as minimally invasive as possible. Additionally, the financial responsibility of the project falls to the project subcontractor and not on the taxpayers of Forsyth County,” said McKee.

For more information, the latest On the Move video update provides further details. Updates will be communicated via the County’s website, forsythco.com, and social media channels.