Gov. Sonny Perdue Presents $15.5B Transportation Program

Gov. Sonny Perdue recently announced Georgia's "Fast Forward" transportation program, a six-year, $15.5 billion plan to accelerate 18 years' worth of projects into six years. According to the governor, the funding includes: $11 billion through the regular Georgia Department of Transportation program, including its transit component; $1.5 billion in general obligation and guaranteed revenue bonds; and an additional $3 billion in GARVEE (Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle) bonds.

"In other words," commented Gov. Perdue, "we're going to pick up the remote and fast forward to the good part - a more mobile, growing Georgia."

According to GDOT and the governor, the program will split funding roughly 50/50 between metro Atlanta and rural projects, with metro projects funded at approximately $7.9 billion and rural work estimated at about $7.6 billion.

The program includes $1.3 billion to accelerate expansion of high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes; $1.5 billion to add more than 400 new lane miles to rural Interstate 75, I-85 and I-95 and urban interstate capacity; and $286 million to implement two new transit corridors in the Atlanta area, among other items.

Owner Dissolves Contract after Third Worker Fatality

Southern Co. said recently it has dissolved its construction contract with W.G. Yates and Sons Construction to build a power plant in Rincon, Ga., after a third worker was killed at the site on May 4. Two other workers died in unrelated accidents at the McIntosh powerplant site earlier in the year.

Kenny Bush, legal counsel for Philadelphia, Miss.-based Yates, says that his client had reached a mutual agreement with Southern to end the contract "in the best interest of continuing the momentum of the project." He says Yates and Southern remain on good terms.

A Southern spokesman in Atlanta says Southern will take over management of the construction project itself and expects to hire a labor broker within a week to provide the work force. Between 600 and 700 persons are employed by Yates at the site near Savannah.

Southern says it does not believe the changeover will delay completion of the McIntosh units 10 and 11 gas combined-cycle plants, which are due to come on line in June 2005 and supply 1,240 MW to Georgia Power and Savannah Electric. A company official says it believes that by taking over project management it could provide a safe environment.

Yates employee Ryan MacKenzie of Newport, Maine, died Tuesday after he fell about 75 ft. from a platform. Bush says that Yates was still investigating the accident, but a local sheriff says that it did not appear either the company or the equipment was at fault. It was not known whether MacKenzie had tied off.

On Feb. 24 Joe Lynn Bethany, Pearl, Miss., died in a similar fall after failing to attach a safety line. On March 10, Johnny Boyett, Bonifay, Fla., was killed falling out of a lift that had become jammed.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is still investigating the previous accidents and local OSHA officials say they expect the third death would increase scrutiny of all three events.

Yates has worked on other Southern projects in the past and maintained an excellent safety record over 40 years until the recent deaths, says Bush. Source: Engineering News-Record. By Paul Kemezis.

April Activity Increases by 21 Percent

The value of contracts in Georgia increased by 21 percent in April, compared to the same period of a year ago, McGraw-Hill Construction reported. Together, Georgia's April contracts totaled nearly $1.9 billion, roughly $325 million ahead of April 2003.

In April, the nonbuilding sector again showed the greatest percentage increase, improving by 65 percent over last year's $142.4 million to end up at $234.5 million. Residential improved by 19 percent to total $1.2 billion for the month, ahead of last April's $1 billion. Nonresidential also increased, improving by 9 percent from a year ago to roughly $420.7 million.

For the year-to-date, Georgia activity is 16 percent ahead of 2003's pace. Residential is the leader and is 23 percent ahead of the first four months of 2003, with approximately $4.7 billion reported so far in 2004. The second-largest market, nonresidential, is 4 percent ahead of a year ago, with roughly $1.7 billion of activity reported to date. Nonbuilding's strong April finally turned this sector positive. It now measures 7 percent ahead of last year's $831.6 million, with roughly $888.4 million reported through April.

Integral Group Announces Atlanta Mixed-Use Projects

The Integral Group recently announced two new mixed-use developments for downtown Atlanta. These include: Sweet Auburn Village, a $35 million, 2.5-acre development in Atlanta's historic Sweet Auburn neighborhood; and Centennial Park East, a $45 million, 2.4-acre project located near Centennial Olympic Park.

Sweet Auburn Village will include 180 townhomes atop 42,800 sq. ft. of retail/restaurant/entertainment space as well as a 283-car parking deck. Centennial Park East will feature a seven-story, 210,000-sq.-ft. residential building, 31,200 sq. ft. of retail space and a parking deck.

Both of these projects are being developed by Integral's Commercial Real Estate Division. The company's Residential-for-sale division is also developing Centennial Park North, a new gated townhome community.

Hardin to Build Conyers Crossroads

Hardin Construction Co. of Atlanta has been selected by Ben Carter Properties to build Conyers Crossroads, Phase II, after successfully completing Phase I in 2003. The scope of the project includes 12 acres of site work, 60,000 sq. ft. of new retail space and demolition of an old commercial building on the site. The architect is Phillips Partnership. Completion is scheduled for March 2005.

Augusta-Richmond Co. Retains Heery as SPLOST Program Manager

Augusta-Richmond County has hired Atlanta-based Heery International as its program manager for the county's Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) V projects. SPLOST V is expected to generate more than $300 million for capital projects, including a new justice center.

GUCA Charters Student Chapter at Georgia Southern

The Georgia Utility Contractors Association of Forest Park announced the chartering of its second student chapter at Georgia Southern University, Statesboro. The construction management program at GSU has the largest student enrollment of any program in Georgia, GUCA stated.

The purpose of the student chapter is to inform students about the different aspects of utility construction and the opportunities available within the industry. A grant from the National Utility Contractors Association assisted in the creation of the new student chapter.