Traffic pain continues, but end is in sight for downtown Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Streets in downtown Augusta have been under construction for months now, and now the traffic is getting even worse.
For businesses, construction – and in some cases a lack of construction – has been a hindrance.
Now with more construction underway, traffic is backing up.
Especially feeling the pain is anyone who has to use 13th Street.
But there’s good new on the horizon.
How engineers are rating infrastructure across Georgia
Georgia earned a C-plus rating for its overall infrastructure, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Augusta traffic official John Ussery says crews are in the final stages of the project and it should be done in August.
Augusta Traffic Engineering says they plan on the project being done in the next month, but businesses and drivers hope it’ll be sooner than that.
Construction is the sound and sight that businesses and drivers on 13th Street know all too well.
“Everything is jammed, jammed packed bumper to bumper,” said Debroah Richardson, who drives in the area.
But lately, some say traffic has been worse.
J.R. Richardson, Ibew Local Union 1579 business manager, said: “It’s not normal. Sometimes it’ll be backed up all the way to the cyber center over here and trying to get out of the parking lot in the evenings for us, you’ve gotta be patient.”
Augusta Traffic Engineering says they’re in the final stages of paving the road and the project will be done in August.
Debroah said: “They should come a little earlier or try and take another route maybe down Greene Street or go back down Laney Walker or down Walton Way and come all the way around.”
The in Martinez closed due to storm damage, construction
Columbia County officials say The is closed until further notice due to storm damage and a large construction project.
Some businesses even say it has also been a safety concern for their employees.
J.R. said: “So, the construction right here at Reynolds Street and 13th Street has been a mess, to say the least. They’ve actually been using our parking lot as a cut-through which has created a safety concern. We’ve had some walk out in our parking lot and nearly get run over.”
With a hopeful end in sight, people are anxiously waiting to see the roads open back up again.
The paving of the roads is in its final stages, and then after that, construction of the 13th Street bridge will begin.
But 13th Street isn’t the only pain point.
As part of the Greene Street Improvement Plan, there will be scheduled water shutdowns starting Tuesday.
The Augusta Utilities Department will shut off a water main on the westbound side of Greene Street at Third Street Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and it will happen again from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday.
This repair is necessary for the installation of a new storm drain pipe. The area affected will be Greene Street from Second Street to Third Street.
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