Georgia DOT announces a traffic shift on Thursday night, June 5th at the State Route 13/Buford Highway and Pleasant Hill Road reconstruction project in Duluth, weather permitting. The project tunnels under the railroad that runs parallel to State Route 13 and rebuilds the intersection of State Route 13 and Pleasant Hill Road as an interchange, utilizing ramps to get from one roadway to the other.  

The shift will place traffic in its permanent alignment in the tunnel.  It also opens the ramps from Pleasant Hill Road eastbound to Buford Highway and from Buford Highway to Pleasant Hill Road eastbound.  The ramp from Pleasant Hill westbound to Buford Highway will be shifted as well to a temporary alignment.  The ramp from Buford Highway to Pleasant Hill westbound will remain in its current temporary alignment.  

“We are pleased to get to this point in the construction where we can open the tunnel,” said DOT District Engineer Russell McMurry.  “I believe this project will greatly improve the traffic flow in this area.” 

Crews will begin shifting traffic at 8 p.m., Thursday, and will have it completely in place by 5 a.m., Friday, as long as weather conditions are acceptable.  If not, the shift will likely be delayed until later in the week.  The overall projected completion date for this 1.49 mile project is January 5, 2009, and its construction cost is more than $34.6 million.

Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about this project. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, construction, and delays due to bad weather. Callers also can transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.