To examine potential abnormal settlement on the westside approach to the Exit 18 overpass, officials involved with the SR 369 widening project temporarily closed the Phase 1 (northern) side of the overpass to traffic and have begun a 60-90 day monitoring period to determine any needed enhancements.

Watch the latest episode of On the Move, and read below, for more details:

On June 21, County and State officials announced the closure of the westbound traffic portion of the SR 369/400 overpass, while the bridge has remained open to traffic with one lane in both directions, to evaluate a potential settlement abnormality.

“In some areas, we have approximately 50 feet of fill material that has been placed in order to build the approach ramps and to widen SR 369,” said Forsyth County Capital Projects Director John Jefferson in the video.

“There is always going to be settlement with that much fill place, however, it seems to be continuing longer than we anticipated so we have setup a monitoring program to determine where are now and what plans need to be for the future.”

While settlement is expected in any construction project, extra measures are being taken to ensure the bridge meets GDOT’s service life requirements of 50-75 years. In July, a contracted surveyor, not involved with the construction of the overpass, began monitoring the settlement using four-dimensional ground penetrating radar (GPR) technology at 50 monitoring points.

After a monitoring period of approximately 60-90 days is complete, crews from Forsyth County, GDOT and other consultants will review and make any necessary modifications required on the westside of the overpass, which could include repairs or alterations to the Phase 1 approach slab or northwest cap.

“The bridge is safe today and the bridge was safe when it opened. We took this precaution, so we did not have to inconvenience the traveling public if any closures to Phase 1 were needed for repairs in the future.”

Traffic remains open on the overpass’s Phase 2 (southern) side with one lane in each direction until any necessary modifications are completed on the bridge’s Phase 1 portion.

Following the current monitoring period and consultation with GDOT and other partners, any needed adjustments to the overpass ramps will be announced through the County’s website, forsythco.com, as well as social media channels.

For more information, please watch the full interview video by clicking here or watching above.