The Georgia Department of Transportation has awarded Vertical Earth, Inc. a $6.8 million contract to build a new bridge over Hazel Creek in Demorest.
Georgia DOT says Vertical Earth – the same contractor that’s reconstructing the Demorest Highway 441 retaining wall – was the low bidder. The Cumming-based company will construct a .284-mile-long bridge and approaches on US 441 Business/SR 385 just south of Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway.
The project has been in the works for several years. The state transportation department bought and cleared land for the project where the old Demorest car wash and Hair Express salon once stood.
State transportation officials did not give a start date for the project but said it should be completed by April 30, 2026.
Clarke County to get new SR 10 Loop bridge
The Hazel Creek Bridge project is among 16 projects DOT announced funding for this week. The state agency awarded a total of $195 million in contracts. Of those, five are bridge projects, representing 32% of the total funding.
In addition to the Hazel Creek Bridge, DOT awarded bridge contracts for Echols, Troup, Bartow, and Clarke counties.
The Clarke County bridge project is on the State Route 10 Loop over the Middle Oconee River. It’s the largest single DOT investment in Northeast Georgia for this round of funding.
The transportation department awarded E.R. Snell Contractor, Inc. of Snellville, a contract worth $23.4 million. The .559-mile-long project will include the construction of a bridge and approaches. The project is expected to be completed by March 31, 2026.
According to DOT, this latest round of funding brings the total construction contracts for Fiscal Year 2023 to $1.66 billion.
