Annual report fiscal year 1990

I
~ Tt"IOO
,: A\
' ll:fqo '_,
o-

G

EORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
................................................................

FISCAL '(EAR 1990 ANNUAL REPORT

ONTENTS AND TRANSMITTAL LETTER
................................................

uilding and then fine-tuning the advanced and diverse transportation network that is necessary to meet the needs of a growing state is a responsibility the Georgia Department of Transportation took very seriously in Rscal Year 1990.
From designing new highways and bridges to upgrading many of the state's 105 publicly owned airports, the well-focused team at the DOT did their part this year to help ensure the continuance of a safe and efficient transportation system for Georgia.
While working to keep Georgia on the right course for continued economic growth and advancement, the DOT kept the existing transportation infrastructure expertly maintained and sought to make the roadsides and the entire state cleaner through the implementation of the Let's Keep Georgia Peachy Clean anti-littering campaign.
The Georgia DOT, to be sure, is divided into many separate divisions and offices that handle a wide variety of equally important jobs, assignments and duties.
Although separate in nature, these offices and the individuals who work in them function together in a very precise and calculated manner each and every day to supply the citizens of Georgia with the advanced transportation system they have come to expect and enjoy.

:' -- iJ

g;:::~ssioner ~1 Floyd Hardy

~- ' ~

....- ; .:

1

1

: A - ' ~,.. ,.. '

;

( ... ':>.~~i-(-. ~\ . ,; ...

-

Commissioner



Departmental Organization and State Transportation Board
Keeping Georgia peachy Clean and Beautiful
Georgia 400 Extension Aims To Reduce Gridlock in North Atlanta
Road Improvement Program Provides Four-Lane Link to More Georgia Cities
Successful Year for Districts Signals Banner Year for DOT
Atlanta Stands Proud as AASHTO Returns For Diamond Anniversary
Bridges Serve as Vital Links In Georgia's Transportation Chain
Efficiency Weighs Heavy at Office of Permits & Enforcement
Beacon of Opportunity Shines Brighter at Upgraded Airport Facilities
Financial and Statistical Information and Governor's Road Improvement Program Map

1 1990 Annual Report

EPARTMENTAL ORGANIZATION AND STATE TRANSPORTATION BOARD ~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The People
Governor r------;====t:===::;---4 General Assembly
- , __ _ __ _ __ J
State Transportation Board

Commissioner

Secretary to the Board/ Executive Assistant

Treasurer

Programming Planning
Urban Area Planning Statewide Planning Public Transportation
Aeronautics .... The Fiscal Year 1990 DOT
Organizational Chart above is current as of June 30, 1990. 1990 Annual Report 2

Environment/Location Right-of-Way
Road & Ai!pOrt Design Urban Design

Construction

Maintenance

Personnel

Contracts Adrrinistration Materials & Resean:h
Construction Claims

Utilities Pemits & Enforcement

General Aooounting Air Transportalion

Pl.tllic Affairs Systems Development
State Aid

FWd Dl.trlcts: 1. Gainesville 3. Thomaston 5. Jesup

7. Charrblee

2. Tennille

4. llfton

6. Cartersville

he State Transportation Board serves as the governing body of the Georgia DOT, representing citizens in the state's ten congressional districts.
In addition to designating which public roads are to be included in the State Highway System, the Board also approves negotiated construction contracts and authorizes lease agreements and non-negotiated construction projects for the Department.
The Board also confirms the appointments of the DOT's commissioner, deputy commissioner, state highway engineer and treasurer.
The ten members of the State Transportation Board are elected to serve five year terms by the members of the Georgia General Assembly serving in each Board Member's congressional district.
During the fiscal year, Cobb County businessman Johnny Gresham joined the Board representing the citizens of the Seventh Congressional District. He replaced Otis Brumby, also of Cobb County, who opted not to seek re-election after serving for one term on the Board.
James Conner, representing the Eighth Congressional District, was re-elected to another term on the Board during the fiscal year.

.... Downing Musgrove Rrst Congressional District

Second Congressional District

.... Frank Morast Third Congressional District

.... William Evans Fourth Congressional District

.... Brad Hubbert Fifth Congressional District

Max S. Goldin

.... Johnny Gresham

.... James Conner

Sixth Congressional District

--...

Seventh Congressional District ~~ .. Eighth Congressional District

J1/1~~--':\1

,,-\ :: ,.~...,.,_'_f\~ ~

l~j

/ -, ~' ;'

.... .

ff/;t. ':::-.? ! ~-.
;!1. ,~/-;>:-.t.~.

' :".j!'!t

'i ~) 1jr--

~ 5ff\

'

t
,

.... Steve Reynolds

.... James Lester

Ninth Congressional District

Tenth Congressional District

3 1990 Annual Report

EEPING GEORGIA "PEACHY CLEAN" AND BEAUTIFUL
~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~~

~ Inaugurated in April1990, the "Let's Keep Georgia Peachy Clean" campaign has been extremely effective in helping
to teach Georgians about the ill effects of littering. Shown above is a billboard featuring the campaign 's slogan and
logo. The advertising space for this billboard, and 1,000 similar boards, was donated by the Outdoor Advertising Association of Georgia.

fforts to keep Georgia trash-free took a giant step forward during the fiscal year with the inauguration of the DOT's "Let's Keep Georgia Peachy Clean" anti-littering campaign.
Designed to alert Georgians to the ill effects of littering and to promote the DOrs year-old Adopt-A-Highway Program, the campaign was officially unveiled at the April1990 State Transportation Board meeting, during the same week as the national observance of Earth Day.
The pro-active effort, created and implemented by the DOT's Public Affairs Office, sought to educate citizens about the serious problems litter poses to both Georgia's pocketbook and the state's delicate environment.
During Fiscal Year 1990 the DOT spent a whopping $3.5 million cleaning up after litterers across the state. This cost for litter pick-up is even more alarming when considering the Department has spent over $25 million since 1982 cleaning up roadside trash in the state.
Because Georgia depends heavily on its multi-billion dollar tourism industry, the Department was concerned that continued public complacency about Georgia's litter problem could saddle the state with a poor

1990 Annual Report 4

public image thereby decreasing tourists and tourism dollars for the state.
Additionally, with gas tax revenues shrinking and federal funding on the decline, the Department targeted the cost for litter control as money that could be spent on more pressing projects such as repaving and other vital transportation improvements.
In order to reach all Georgians, as well as tourists visiting the state, the DOT used all available resources to spread the word that littering in Georgia is unacceptable and should not be tolerated, especially by a state with such a widely acclaimed and beautiful landscape.
Using brochures, billboards, bumper stickers, press releases, speakers, displays and public service announcements, the DOT promoted the campaign to schools, civic groups, clean community commissions and other organizations throughout the state during the year.
The "Peachy Clean" program will be ongoing and is set to continue long after the end of the fiscal year. In fact, the DOT hopes to perpetuate the program as long as litter is prevalent throughout Georgia.
Litter Decreases As Membership In The Adopt-A-Highway Program Increases
Modeled after successfu I programs in other states, such as North and South Carolina, the Adopt-A-Highway Program was

.... Shown at left is an Adopt-A-Highway group cleaning up roadsides in Rockdale County. Through the civic-minded efforts of groups such as this one, Georgia's landscape is rapidly becoming "Peachy Clean. " The Adopt-A-Highway Program has enlisted the support of many varying organizations, including civic groups, high schools, churches and businesses.

established by the DOT's Maintenance Office in March 1989 and is designed so that citizens can assist the Department in picking up litter along the state's highways.
The premise of the community-oriented Adopt-A-Highway Program is that groups or individuals can actually "adopt" a section of highway by signing a contract and agreeing to pick up trash at least four times each year along a one- or two-mile section of state highway. The DOT then agrees to erect signs bearing the name of the "adopting" group at both ends of the designated section of highway and also provides safety vests, trash bags and removes the collected litter.

During the year, civic groups and a variety of businesses and other organizations joined the Adopt-A-Highway Program as fast as they could be enlisted. At year's end, Adopt-AHighway groups totaled over 300, more than double the number of groups involved before the "Peachy Clean" campaign began.
The Maintenance Office set a lofty goal of enlisting over 600 total groups into the Adopt-A-Highway Program by the end of calendar year 1990. With the continuing promotion of the "Peachy Clean" campaign, the DOT is confident even more groups will help the Department keep Georgia clean and beautiful along the myriad of state highways.

5 1990 Annual Report

EORGIA 400 EXTENSION AIMS TO REDUCE GRIDLOCK IN NORTH ATLANTA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

..... Above, the Georgia 400 Extension makes its way under the Atlanta Financial Center, an office tower complex in the Buckhead area of north Atlanta. The tunnel being built below the building began to rapidly take shape during the fiscal year as construction progressed. The Financial Center was specially designed and constructed several years ago to allow six lanes of traffic to pass underneath.

rowth can be very beneficial to the economics and success of any city; however, when rapid growth occurs in an area, certain negative side effects may come along for the ride.
Over the last 10 to 20 years, north Atlanta, particularly the Buckhead area, has been besieged by a rapid growth in population,

new business and commercial development all of which has been economically beneficial for the once calm and secluded section of the city.
As a result of this rapid and continuing growth, however, surface streets winding through Buckhead have become overly congested. Many of these streets, in fact, are

approaching gridlock, particularly during the morning and evening rush hours.
Highway To Decrease Traffic Congestion, Provide Rapid Rail Corridor For MARTA
In an effort to relieve the congested streets and highways in and around Buckhead, the Georgia DOT this fiscal year let four projects to contract for the construction of the State Route 400 Extension - which when complete will be operating as the state's second toll road.
Beginning at the highway's temporary end at Interstate 285 in north Fulton County, the Georgia 400 Extension will, when complete, intersect with Interstate 85 just south of the Lenox Road viaduct in the city of Atlanta. Between these interstates, the highway will wind its way through the heart of Buckhead, past office towers and shopping malls.
In order to pay for the over $150 million needed to construct the highway and other structures associated with it, the DOT has used a combination of funds provided by the State Tollway Authority, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and state and federal governments.
Scheduled to open in 1993, the 6.25-mile road extension will not only substantially reduce the traffic clogging the roads in the Buckhead area, but will provide a rapid rail corridor for MARTA. The rail line will run

1990 Annual Report 6

through the median of the Georgia 400 Extension and will allow MARTA to expand its service to more people throughout north Atlanta and ultimately beyond 1-285.
The DOT also will be building two new roads to complement the traffic-reducing measures that will be put into effect by the Georgia 400 Extension.
One of the additional roads the DOT will be constructing, the Buckhead Loop, is a multi-lane thoroughfare that will provide a much needed link between Peachtree Road (State Route 141 ) and Piedmont Road (State Route 237) . The Loop is designed to alleviate traffic congestion at the now-crowded crossing of Peachtree and Piedmont, one of the city's busiest intersections.
The Glenridge Perimeter, another of the many road improvements taking place in conjunction with the Georgia 400 Extension, is located north of the Buckhead Loop and connects Glenridge Drive to Peachtree Dunwoody Road. When complete, the Glenridge Perimeter will help reduce traffic on the streets around the Georgia 400 Extension and will provide a direct access to the highway.
When the Georgia 400 Extension opens in 1993, DOT traffic projections indicate that as many as 55,000 vehicles a day will travel the road . By the year 201 0, however, the DOT estimates that as many as 98,000 vehicles a day will be traveling on the six-lane toll road.

Pay-As- You-Go Concept To Offset Georgia 400 Extension Cost
To help offset the cost of the Georgia 400 Extension, the Georgia DOT will be applying a toll charge, through the State Tollway Authority, for drivers who use the highway.
The proposed toll charge for using the Extension is 50 cents for two axle vehicles and $1.50 for vehicles with three axles or more. The toll plaza will be located between the Buckhead Loop and the Glenridge Perimeter interchanges on the highway, just inside the city of Atlanta.
To make the toll collection process as quick as possible, the 16-lane toll plaza will house the most up-to-date equipment for motorists traveling on the highway. Having the standard toll collection equipment, including lanes for individuals who either have the correct change for the toll or who need change, the plaza also will have automatic vehicle identification lanes that can identify vehicles that have an established account with the State Tollway Authority.
The owner of that vehicle will then be billed, more than likely each month, for the amount of times they have passed through the toll plaza on the highway. Construction projects for the toll plaza will be let to contract in 1991 or 1992 and will be completed before the Extension's scheduled opening in the summer of 1993.

Glenridge Drive

Construction on the Georgia 400 Extension
map not to scale under construction !8IISSS8!!

Peachtree Road
Toll Plaza

Piedmont Road

7 1990 Annual Report

OAD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES FOUR-LANE LINK TO MORE GEORGIA CITIES {see map page 22J
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

he Governor's Road Improvement Program (GRIP), an outgrowth of the DOTs Economic Development Highway System, saw significant progress during Fiscal Year 1990 with the completion of nearly 60 new miles of multi-laning.
A network of developmental highway corridors planned by the DOT to respond to the state's growing need for improved access off the Interstate System, the GRIP system will provide nearly 1,800 miles of four-lane highways. Additionally, it will link urban and rural communities across Georgia by placing 98 percent of the state's population within 20 miles of a four-lane road.
Aside from the obvious advantages of increased accessibility and greater mobility, the GRIP system is helping to make Georgia's roads safer. According to Department data, accidents occur approximately three times more often on two-lane highways than on multi-lane highways.
On another safety note, DOT statistics from 1987 show that by increasing the capacity of a rural highway from two lanes to four or more lanes, fatalities are reduced by over 50 percent.
The road improvement program was first introduced in 1989, with funding for the program's 13 corridors reliant upon

~ The economic impact of the GRIP system is evident across Georgia. Wai-Mart Stores, one of the nation's largest and fastest growing retailers, located an expansive distribution center in Douglas due in large part to that city's access to enhanced GRIP corridors, U.S. 82 and U.S. 441.
appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly. During the 1989 session, $135 million was allotted for the GRIP system for Fiscal Year 1990.
As a direct result of that funding, 56 new miles of multi-laning were opened to the traveling public during the fiscal year.
Panoramic North Georgia Mountains Provide Backdrop For APD Highway
Arguably the most noteworthy section of the GRIP system finished during the year was the 3.16-mile final section of the Appalachian Development (APD) Highway. Though the

entire route's pre-eminence over other GRIP corridors may be cause for discussion, few can doubt that a drive along the APD Highway/ State Route 515 provides one of the state's most scenic vistas.
Nestled among the rolling hills of Pickens, Gilmer, Fannin and Union counties, the APD Highway hugs the highs and lows of Georgia's portion of the Appalachian Mountains, winding its way through some of the state's most beautiful terrain.
Now complete, the highway begins at Interstate 575 north of Atlanta and stretches 70 miles to Blairsville. With this ribbon of road at the beck and call of motorists, Atlanta now has an enhanced link with the state's Appalachian region. Moreover, the road's final opening at Cherry Log in July 1989 marked the completion of the second corridor among GRIP's 13 routes. The first completed GRIP route was Corridor Z joining Columbus and Brunswick.
Middle And South Georgia Reap Benefits Of GRIP Multi-Laning
In reviewing the fiscal year, middle and south Georgia were the sites of the lion's share of road improvement program work.
A 5.5-mile section of U.S. Route 27 was multi-laned in Decatur County, from the city of Bainbridge north to County Road 338. U.S. 27 runs parallel with the Alabama-Georgia line from Tennessee to Florida, providing a key

1990 Annual Report 8

transportation link for cities including LaFayette, Rome, Cedartown, Columbus, Cuthbert, Blakely and Bainbridge.
In Brooks and Lowndes counties, 11 .1 miles of multi-laning were completed on U.S. Route 84, from the city of Quitman to an existing four-lane section near Valdosta. This multi-laning project brought the comprehensive plan to upgrade all of U.S. 84 from the Alabama line near Donalsonville to Waycross closer to reality.
The cities of Crosland and Omega began to benefit during the year from a GRIP widening project on U.S. Route 319. Affecting motorists in both Tift and Colquitt counties, lanes were added on 7.7 miles of roadway from Crosland north to Arnold Creek.
The Golden Isles Parkway, a route linking Interstate 75 in Perry to Brunswick along Georgia's shimmering coastline, saw another piece of its linear puzzle fall into place during fiscal 1990. A 1.3-mile section was widened in Appling County through the city of Surrency.
Also in Appling County, the Department put the finishing touches on a 10.4-mile multi-laning project on U.S. Route 1, stretching north from the city of Baxley to the Altamaha River.
Motorists in the coastal Georgia counties of Chatham and Effingham welcomed a completed GRIP project on the Savannah River

.... Pike countians anticipated the completion of the U.S. 19 one-way pair in Zebulon shown above. When complete in Fiscal Year 1991, four lanes of one-way traffic will ease travel in the city limits.

Parkway during the year. Specifically, 9.9 miles were enhanced through widening on State Route 21 from Interstate 95 to the city of Rincon.
Rounding out the Governor's Road Improvement Program work for the year was a 7.3-mile multi-laning project in Baldwin County. Known also as the Milledgeville bypass, this construction on U.S. Route 441 eased travel in the middle Georgia area while heightening hopes for improved transportation all along the highway's path.

U.S. 441 is a major north-south artery traveling the length of the state providing multi-lane access for cities such as Demorest, Commerce, Athens, Milledgeville, Dublin, Douglas and Homerville.
For engineers and planners, the progress of the GRIP system during fiscal 1990 was easily measured in miles. However, the system's overall impact stretches much further than miles. In connecting cities, industries and people, the GRIP system fu lfills its promise of travel made safer, easier and more enjoyable.

9 1990 Annual Report

UCCESSFUL YEAR FOR DISTRICTS SIGNALS BANNER YEAR FOR DOT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Interstate 75, the state's major north-south highway, was widened through Forsyth in Monroe County during
the fiscal year to accommodate the heavy flow of traffic through this Middle Georgia area. The $21.9 million project was fully opened to traffic in June 1990 aher nearly three years of construction.

he Georgia Department of Transportation is headquartered in Atlanta with seven district offices located in regions
throughout the state. Each district offi ce is responsible for
monitoring the construction and maintenance

of state highways, interstates and bridges and the maintenance of right-of-way within the boundaries of its region. Hundreds of construction and maintenance projects were active on any given day across the state during the fiscal year. Some of these projects are highlighted in the following district summaries:

District One - Gainesville
Improved safety and greater traffic mobility characterize District One's accomplishments during the fiscal year.
To the delight of travelers in northeast Georgia, two additional lanes were opened in each direction on Interstate 85 from State Route 316 to Interstate 985. Multi-lane access also was provided further into the northeast region of the state with the opening of State Route 365 from U.S. 441 to State Route 115 in Habersham County. Reconstruction of the Interstate 85 and Beaver Ruin Road interchange was also completed providing improved safety and capacity.
District Two - Tennille
Major projects opened to traffic within District Two during Fiscal Year 1990 include the widening projects that are part of the Governor's Road Improvement Program (GRIP) - a system of four-lane
developmental highways. The 7.3 mile-long Milledgeville bypass was
completed and opened to traffic this year at a

1990 Annual Report 10

construction cost of $11 .6 million. Additional GRIP projects under construction in District Two included the bypasses designed for Sandersville, Madison and Eatonton. The contract amount for these bypasses totaled over $19 million.
Other major projects completed and opened to traffic in Fiscal Year 1990 included the widening and reconstruction projects for 3.4 miles of State Route 121/10, the Gordon Highway, in Richmond County and 7.6 miles of Interstate 20 in Rockdale and Newton counties.
District Three - Thomaston
Following nearly three years of facility upgrades and highway expansion at a cost of $21.9 million, Interstate 75 in Monroe County was fully open to traffic in June.
With the completion of additional lanes on Interstate 75 from Forsyth to Interstate 475, a six-lane freeway is now in operation from Interstate 675 south of Atlanta to Interstate 475 north of Macon. The tremendous flow of traffic through the heart of Georgia along this route called for the reconstruction and widening of the interstate.
The state's Golden Isles Parkway took another significant step toward completion during Fiscal Year 1990 with the widening of the Courtney Hodges Boulevard intersection at Perry in Houston County. The Golden Isles

Parkway is a four-lane highway designed for U.S. 341 linking Perry, in middle Georgia, to Brunswick, on the state's coast.
Also opened to traffic were additional lanes on Interstate 185, the Undsey Creek bypass, in Columbus.
Other noteworthy projects in Distri ct Three that were 60 percent complete at the end of the fiscal year include the four-laning of sections of state highways and the construction of bridges. In Pike County, 2.7 miles of State Route 3, U.S. 19, we re widened to four lanes and in Peach County, a double bridge was constructed on State Route 49 over the Central Georgia Railroad.
District Four - Tifton
During Fiscal Year 1990, the Tifton District had 346 projects under construction with a total contract value of more than $162 million.
Included among the
District's major projects opened to traffic during the fiscal year were sections of highways in five counties that were widened to four lanes.
In Colquitt and Tift counties, 7.685 miles of State Route 35, U.S. 319, were widened to four lanes from Royal Street in Crosland north to Arnold Creek.
In Lowndes and Brooks counties, 11 .08 miles of State Route 38, U.S. 84 were

widened to four lanes from the city of Quitman, east to County Road 137. State Route 1, U.S. 27, in Decatur County was widened to four lanes from the Seaboard System Railroad 5.5 miles north to County Road 338.
District Five - Jesup
District Five experienced an all-time high of 425 active construction projects underway in Fiscal Year 1990 which represented 679 miles of highways and $293 million
worth of work under contract. The Talmadge Memorial Bridge
Replacement Project spanning the Savannah River neared completion at the close of the fiscal year and ranked as the Jesup District's premier project.
The new bridge that will span the Savannah River is scheduled to be opened by summer 1991. This new bridge will alleviate the restrictions that the Talmadge Memorial Bridge now places on ships needing access to the Savannah Harbor.
On January 23, a bridge on Interstate 95 over the South Altamaha River was the focus of concern when it was discovered that some of the bridge's pilings had settled approximately four inches. Emergency repairs were completed within 40 days, and the structure was reopened to traffic on March 9.

11 1990 Annual Report

District Six during Fiscal Year 1990 was the 2.76-mile bypass designed to help route traffic around Rome.

.... The Golden Isles Parkway, a GRIP corridor that when complete will provide a four-lane link from Interstate 75 to Georgia 's popular coastal region, was widened in many areas in Fiscal Year 1990. Shown above is a widened section of the parkway at its intersection with Courtney Hodges Boulevard near the state 's multi-million dollar Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry.

During Fiscal Year 1990,

45 projects representing 223

Cartersville

miles of highway were let to contract in District Six at an

estimated cost of $55 million.

The completion of the

70.8 mile Appalachian Developmental (APD)

Corridor topped the list of Fiscal Year 1990

highlights for Distri ct Six. Extending north from Interstate 575 in Pickens County to

Blairsville in Union County, the last 3.1-mile segment of this four-lane divided highway was officially opened at Cherry Log in July.
As part of the DOTs effort to provide a four-lane facility from Atlanta west to Cedartown, bypasses around Rockmart and Dallas along State Route 6, U.S. 278, were under construction during the fiscal year. Both the 3.9-mile Rockmart bypass and the 6.6-mile Dallas bypass called for the construction of a double bridge over the Southern Railroad line.
Another bypass under construction in

Responsible for six counties in the metropolitan Atlanta area, District Seven emphasized safety and maintenance in its Fiscal Year 1990 projects and
activities. An emphasis on training also contributed to improved safety with the reduction of preventable accidents by 50 percent among employees.
In another project aimed at improving roadside safety, the Metro District worked with Georgia Power and Southern Bell to eliminate 386 dual line poles and relocate 400 additional poles to the back of the right-of-way.
Additionally, several projects were completed which enhance safety and improve traffic flow through the widening of surface routes and installation of medians.
Efforts to improve heavy traffic flow onto and off of interstates in the Atlanta area were also underway in District Seven. Improved interchanges opened to traffic during the fiscal year include those located at Interstate 20 and State Route 138 in Rockdale County, Thornton Road and Interstate 20 in Douglas County and Mount Zion Road and Interstate 75 in Clayton County.

1990 Annual Report 12

TLANTA STANDS PROUD AS AASHTO RETURNS FOR DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

usiness meetings are a commonplace, yet integral, part of the Georgia DOT's day-to-day agenda.
In Fiscal Year 1990 though , one meeting drew the attention of transportation experts and officials from across the country to Atlanta.
In October 1989 the transportation eyes of the nation were focused on the Georgia DOT as the agency hosted the diamond anniversary annual meeting of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
Atlanta and AASHTO, a national transportation association whose purpose is to foster the development, operation and maintenance of a nationwide integrated transportation system, share a rich heritage. The organization was formed in Georgia's capital city in 1914 and Atlanta again hosted the annual meeting in 1964.
In keeping with the significance of the 75th annual meeting and in honor of the milestone it represented in AASHTO's history, the Georgia DOT selected the theme "Returns For A Diamond Jubilee" to be used on publications, registration materials, displays and signs.
Expert Opinion. Analysis Offered As Speakers Tackle Transportation Issues
An impressive slate of the nation's top transportation officials attended the meeting in

~ Transportation Commissioner Hal Rives, above, and the entire DOT welcomed AASHTO to Atlanta for the
second time since the associati on 's 1914 incep tion in Georgia's capital city. At the meeting Rives was elected to serve a one-year term as AASHTO vice president.

Atlanta, each bringing a unique perspective on transportation issues facing the country. Though the topics of discussion at the fi ve-day meeting were as diverse as the delegates and officials in attendance, several underlying messages emerged, forever stamping the 75th conference as an essential step in the direction of addressing transportation needs for now and, more importantly, for the future.
Keynote speaker Samuel K. Skinner, U.S.

Transportation Secretary, emphasized the necessity of increasing transportation investments to keep the nation economically competitive in the world economy.
Skinner went on to outline the U.S. DOT's proposal of a National Transportation Plan, a strategic policy recommending both specific outlets for future capital expenditures and sites for future transportation system expansion. Skinner alluded to the fact th at AASHTO's input

13 1990 Annual Report

into the development and ultimate implementation of the plan was crucial. When the plan was announced in early 1990, in fact, AASHTO's influence on it was unmistakable.
Another key speaker was U.S. Representative Norman Y. Mineta from California, chairman of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation for the Public Works and Transportation Committee. Mineta reiterated Skinner's focus on funding future transportation systems as he called for a partnership among the American people, business, industry and all levels of government to ensure the future success of the nation's transportation network.
In a rousing commentary, Mineta specifically called on AASHTO, both at the delegate level and as a body, to help lay the groundwork for upcoming transportation legislation, the most important legislation according to Mineta since the establishment of the Interstate Highway System in the mid-1950s.
Other notable speakers such as Federal Highway Administrator Thomas D. Larson and outgoing AASHTO President James P. Pitz of Michigan peppered the 75th annual meeting with insightful and inspiring addresses as well.
All totaled, speakers made the gathering memorable if not monumental in its efforts to establish a precedent for future meetings by offering tangible solutions to transportation

.... Michigan 's James P. Pitz presided over the annual meeting in his capacity as president of AASHTO.
questions facing the nation. These solutions, many felt at the meeting's end, would enlighten AASHTO's path toward continued growth and progress.
AASHTO Executive Committee Elects Rives Vice President
Aside from the excitement generated by hosting the 50 states and several foreign

countries for a milestone annual meeting, the Georgia DOT watched as AASHTO conducted its annual elections to the executive committee.
Georgia Transportation Commissioner Hal Rives was nominated and then elected vice president of AASHTO by the organization's executive committee. During his year as vice president, Rives would be active in the formulation and implementation of AASHTO policy, as well as playing an active part in the 1990 annual meeting in Phoenix.
Rives previously has served as chairman of AASHTO's Standing Committee on Aviation and on the Special Committee on Route Numbering. Traditionally, the vice president of AASHTO is elected to serve as president of the national organization after his term as vice president concludes.
Kermit H. Justice, secretary of the Delaware DOT, was elected president of AASHTO. Additionally, Clyde Pyers of Maryland was re-elected secretary-treasurer and regional representatives were elected to the executive committee for staggered terms.
The election of Rives marked the continuation of the Georgia DOrs representation at AASHTO's national level, an honor which over the years has included the likes of former Transportation Commissioner Thomas D. Moreland and former State Highway Engineer M.L. Shadburn.

1990 Annual Report 14

RIDGES SERVE AS VITAL LINKS IN GEORGIA 'S TRANSPORTATION CHAIN
~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~

erving as the vital links that connect sections of Georgia's highways are a multitude of bridges, many of which stand as some of the state's finest landmarks and monuments.
From the majestic intertwining bridges of the Tom Moreland Interchange in metro Atlanta to the graceful reach of the Torras Causeway at St. Simons Island, bridges across Georgia represent a masterful combination of art and engineering.
In Fiscal Year 1990, some of the Department's most significant achievements included milestone events in bridge design, construction and repair.
Construction of New Bridges Provides Vital Links over Lake Lanier
Fiscal Year 1990 marked the beginning of construction for the approaches and two span steel bridges over Lake Lanier in Hall County on State Routes 53 and 60.
With the building of these bridges comes the deepest cofferdam construction ever done in the state's history. Cofferdams are temporary structures assembled to hold water at bay while bridge pilings are driven into the floor of a lake or riverbed. The cofferdams used in the construction of the bridges in Hall County are providing virtual watertight enclosures in water up to 100 feet deep.

~ A unique perspective on bridge construction in Fiscal Year 1990 is provided by this bird's-eye view of piers under construction insi de a cofferdam at Hall County's State Route 53. Perched high above the bottom of Lake Lanier and inside a watertight enclosure, workers erect the web of steel supports necessary before concrete can be poured. At depths approaching 100 feet, the cofferdams built for this fiscal1990 project were the deepest ever constructed in the state.

15 1990 Annual Report

The two new bridges are being built parallel to the existing bridges. After approximately 12 months of construction, the new bridges will open and traffic will be routed one-way on each of the four structures.
As history was being made in the construction of the bridges over Lake Lanier during Fiscal Year 1990, the eagerly awaited completion of the State Route 400 Extension drew nearer.
By the fiscal year's end, all of the plans for the 27 bridges and 19 retaining walls designed for the route's path through Fulton County were let to contract. The extension will provide a much needed thoroughfare between Interstates 285 and downtown Atlanta's Interstate 85.
Fine-tuning State's Transportation System With Bridge Replacement Projects
The bridge replacement projects already underway and those in the planning stages during Fiscal Year 1990 constitute some of the state's most consequential undertakings in preparing Georgia for economic opportunity.
Towering across the Savannah River, the Talmadge Memorial Bridge Replacement Project will provide the Savannah Harbor with a bridge that will allow more ships to have access to the increasingly popular port of call.
The new bridge will have a vertical clearance of 185 feet, 50 feet higher than the

existing bridge, and is scheduled to be opened to traffic in the summer of 1991 .
Another significant bridge replacement project was kicked off during Fiscal Year 1990 as the need to replace the Sidney Lanier Bridge located in Brunswick was addressed through a feasibility study. At the close of the
.... At a bridge site in north Georgia, a DOT diver emerges from the water with a "thumbs-up," signaling a successful check of a bridge pier. Bridge inspections during the year proved, as they do every year, out of sight does not mean out of mind.
fiscal year, Georgia awaited a U.S. congressional decision as to whether the bridge would be declared an obstruction to navigation - a prerequisite in acquiring government funding needed to finance construction of a new bridge.
The replacement of load-limited bridges also continued to be a major area of concern. In addition to the 132 bridges let to contract

during the fiscal year, an additional 11 bridges located on state routes were replaced or converted to culverts as part of the Load-Umited Bridge Replacement Program. As fiscal 1990 ended, only 45 such bridges remained to be let to contract on the State System.
DOT Repairs Bridge on Interstate 95 After Alert Motorist Warns of Potential Hazard
In January 1990, a concerned motorist notified the Department of an unusual dip that had suddenly developed in the southbound lane of the Interstate 95 bridge over the South Altamaha River.
Further inspection by the Department revealed that a significant amount of the riverbed had been washed away or "scoured" from underneath one of the piers supporting the southbound bridge. Almost 20 feet of the riverbed had been washed away from under the pier supporting the sagging portion of the bridge. DOT engineers determined that strong water currents brought about by several months of uncommonly heavy rains and Hurricane Hugo flood waters had caused the severe scouring which occurred after the last inspection of the bridge in April 1989.
Quickly addressing the problem, the DOT prepared repair plans and let them to contract in two weeks. Forty days later, repairs were completed and the bridge was reopened to traffic.

1990 Annual Report 16

FFICIENCY WEIGHS HEAVY AT OFFICE OF PERMITS & ENFORCEMENT
~~~~~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

his fiscal year, the DOT's Office of Permits and Enforcement (P&E) took efficiency to new heights with the installation of several timeand money-saving programs.

These newly added dimensions to the Office of P&E were designed to aid both the truckers who daily use the state's system of roads and the officers who enforce the state's laws regulating the trucking industry.

Fax Service Makes Ordering Permits Only A Phone Call Away

During the year, the Office of P&E added a 24-hour telephone fax service to quicken and simplify the process for persons ordering permits for trucks in Georgia.

With over 700 permits requested daily, the Office of P&E began to search for solutions to make the DOT's permit ordering service more convenient and less time-consuming.

The fax system has been popular and productive in the trucking industry and has helped the DOT process more permits than ever before. Since the implementation of the fax service, in fact, P&E has received as many as 1,400 calls and faxes for permits in one day.

New Computer System Aids DOT In Issuing Violations To Truckers
A sophisticated new computer system was installed at the Douglas County Weigh

~ Dotting the state s roadways is a system of permanent and satellite weigh stations. At the Douglas County Weigh Station, shown above, a pilot computer system proved effective in more efficiently computing fines and resulted in the prospect of upgraded computer systems at all the state"s permanent weigh stations.

17 1990 Annual Report

Station this year which is helping P&E officers issue violations to truckers operating above the legal weight and size limitations.
Before the new computer system was installed, the P&E officers would manually record the violations on a standard form. The officers also would have to manually compute the cost of the fines - a procedure that was leaving too much room for error.
The newly installed system computes the most severe violation the truck driver has incurred and will only charge the driver for the violation that is the costliest. In some cases, however, a trucker must pay a fine for more than one unrelated violation.
Relatively inexpensive to buy and install, the new computer system includes a method in its program which computes all of the violation charges a trucker has incurred just by entering the weight and dimension information for each vehicle that is found to be operating beyond the legal limits.
Although the system was installed in only the Douglas County Weigh Station this year, plans are already underway to implement the program at all DOT weigh stations across the state over the next several fiscal years.
Satellite Weigh Stations Offer The DOT A Lower-Cost Alternative To Monitor Trucks
Less expensive than the conventional permanent weigh stations, the satellite stations

installed during the fiscal year may be the wave of the future for the DOT.
Found in six locations throughout Georgia, the satellite stations require only two enforcement officers to run the scales and other equipment necessary for operation.
The satellite stations allow the DOT to check more trucks in more places for about one-tenth the cost of a permanent weigh

Georgia's trucking industry plays a pivotal role in keeping the state 's economy rolling. In fiscal 1990 new procedures to save time and money kept the Office of Permits & Enforcement at the forefront of trucking industry technology.
station. In addition to saving the taxpayers money, the satellite stations allow the DOT to reduce the number of overweight and/or overlength trucks traveling the state's highways on routes lacking permanent weigh stations.
Truckers ' Manual Catalogs and Centralizes Georgia's Laws For The Trucking Industry
Also this fiscal year the state's laws and regulations which concern Georgia's trucking industry were centralized for the first time ever with the production of the Truckers ' Compliance Manual.
Published by the DOTs Public Affairs Office, the manual brings together all of the trucking regulations from the DOT, Public Service Commission, Department of Revenue and Department of Public Safety.
The manual has been distributed to truckers coming into the state through various outlets, including the Georgia Motor Trucking Association, weigh stations and all departments regulating the trucking industry.
With the manual, truckers are now able to easily look up the ru les, regulations, phone numbers and addresses they may need, many times on a regu lar basis.

1990 Annual Report 18

EACON OF OPPORTUNITY SHINES BRIGHTER AT UPGRADED AIRPORT FACILITIES ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

he unpaved pathways in the sky were made more inviting to air travelers in Fiscal Year 1990 thanks to the Department of Transportation's role in ensuring the vitality and safety of publicly owned airport facilities throughout the state.
The Department's Bureau of Aeronautics is charged with the responsibility of inspecting publicly owned airports and distributing state funds needed by local governments for projects such as resurfacing runways and constructing runway extensions.
Numerous airport improvement projects made possible by the Bureau's efforts are included among the Department's most noteworthy accomplishments of the fiscal year.
Rehabilitation Projects At Public Airports Ensure Smooth Landings For Air Travelers
Approximately $2.52 million in state funds was distributed during the fiscal year to 35 of 105 publicly owned Georgia airports eligible for receiving such funds as part of the Airport Capital Outlay Construction Program managed by the Bureau.
Much of this financial assistance, supplemented by federal and local dollars, was allocated for ~rehabilitation~ of publicly owned airports. In rehabilitating an airport, the existing facilities are upgraded or improved

... With the addition of a new 5,200-foot runway, greater numbers of airplanes have been able to use the facilities at the Peachtree City-Falcon Field Airport in Fayette County. As a result, the area is now poised for continued economic growth beyond Fiscal Year 1990. Above, a group of business travelers is shown just aher landing at the airport en route to a meeting in the Peachtree City area.

19 1990 Annual Report

through measures such as resurfacing runways and improving lighting and approach aids. Major runway resurfacing projects completed during the fiscal year included the resurfacing of both runways at the Bainbridge-Decatur County Airport; the primary runway at the Cordele-Crisp County Airport; and a runway at the Macon-Herbert Smart Airport.
Rehabilitation projects which involved the installation of improved lighting and approach aid systems included those at the Cordele-Crisp County Airport, Louisville Airport and Thomasville Airport. These rehabilitation projects took advantage of the latest technology in ensuring safe landings while conserving energy. With the installation of radio-controlled lighting systems that can be activated by a pilot, for example, safe landings have become a cinch and energy is conserved since runway lights do not remain on when not needed.
Accommodating State 's Increased Air Traffic With New Runways and Runway Extensions
Other significant airport improvement projects made possible through the Department's assistance in Fiscal Year 1990 included runway extension projects and the construction of new runways.
More runway space was needed at several airports to accommodate larger aircraft and provide for safer operation of the growing number of small planes. The potential for

.... Rehabilitation projects at the state 's publicly owned airports can provide so much more than just an improved appearance and smoother landings. They can in fact provide a region with an economic lift by making air travel easier and more accessible. Both runways at the Bainbridge-Decatur County Airport were resurfaced during the fiscal year. One of the runways is shown above.

economic growth shines brighter for communities located throughout the state where new and extended runways translate into expanded business opportunities for industries and corporations.
Significant runway extension projects in Fiscal Year 1990 include an 80Q-foot extension to the runway at the Cairo-Grady County Airport and a 600-foot extension to the runway at the Washington-Wilkes County Airport. The Eastman-Dodge County Airport and the Millen

Airport in Jenkins County were both resurfaced and received runway extensions this year.
In locations where existing runways could not be expanded, new runways were constructed. Fiscal Year 1990 marked the final site preparation and paving of a new 5,200-foot runway at Peachtree City-Falcon Field Airport. Another runway addition making its debut this year was the new 6,00Q-foot runway constructed at the Lawrenceville-Gwinnett County Airport.

1990 Annual Report 20

ISCAL YEAR 1990 FINANCIAL AND STATISTICAL INFORMATION ~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~

EXPENDITURES
Year ending June 30, 1990
Personal Services Regular Operating Expenses Travel Motor Vehicle Equipment Purchases Equipment Real Estate Rentals Per Diem, Fees and Contracts Computer Charges Telecommunications Capital Outlay G.O. Bond Debt Sinking Fund Harbor Maintenance Mass Transit Grants Capital Outlay - Airport Development Spoilage Land Acquisition, Clearing and Preparation Grants to Counties Grants to Municipalities Capital Outlay - Airport Approach Aid/Operational Improvements

207,504,211.60 65,138,949.23 1,732,501.39 1,434,009.22 9,407,850.98 1,269,120.66 10,302,761.40 5,363,566.58 1,948,178.35
744,922,091.04 45,741 ,427.00 1,251,117 .60 9,307,341.40 1,266,739.48 2,962,554.00 9,317,013.00 9,317,000.00 1,275,404.81

Total Mileage Percentages of Georgia Roads
as of December 1989*
+ Numbers in the pie chart indicate the percentage of the total state mileage
Figures based on calendar year. not fiscal year Source Office of Planning Data Services
Total State Fund Appropriations As Compared to DOT Appropriations

Fiscal Year 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
Only a portion of the 100% scale is shown Source Budget Unit

21 1990 Annual Report

GOVERNOR'S ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM MAP
..... The Governor's Road Improvement Program is a program whereby roads are planned and constructed for the purpose of spurring economic growth across Georgia through the establishment of specific growth corridor highways.

1990 Annual Report 22

The Proposed System
- - Truck Routes - - Completed or Under Contract

Program Corridors
1. Appalachian
2. Corridor z
3. u.s. 27
4. Golden Isles
5. Savannah River
6. u.s. 441
7. Fall Line
8. u.s. 319 9. u.s. 19 10. u.s. 84 +
11. U.S. 1/S.R. 17
12. State Route 72
13. Outer Perimeter

Corridor Mileage When Complete
70.8 * 251.3 *
357.2 162.0 153.3 360.8 209.1
72.7 201.1 254.4 333.6
46.9 213.8

TOTAL MILEAGE

2,687.0

Appalachian Development Highway and Corridor Z are complete +U.S. 82 mileage is now included in the U.S. 84 mileage

A PUBLICATION OF J}!E GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE NO. 2 CAPITOL SOUARE, ROOM 114 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30334 (404) 656-5267