Drivers to start seeing major work with 85-385 Gateway Project
January 15, 2016
The next few months are going to be very busy for the 85-385 Gateway Project as large parts of the project’s development swing into motion.
While preparation work such as milling and asphalt repair started last fall, the next few weeks will bring important changes that drivers will be very aware of, said Jack Valetti, Resident Construction Engineer with the South Carolina Department of Transportation.
“This is when people are going to see the project really begin,” he said.
The biggest work most people will notice over the next couple of months will be the clearing and grubbing of land along Interstate 85 and Interstate 385, which will allow for the project’s new lanes and bridges to be added, he said.
In addition, people will see the installation of temporary barrier walls, road construction signs and more construction equipment around the I-85-385 interchange, Valetti said.
The 85-385 Gateway Project is utilizing a design-build contract which will require Flatiron-Zachry, a joint venture of Flatiron Construction Corp. and Zachry Construction Corp, to design, obtain permits, acquire right-of-way, coordinate utility relocation, and construct the new interchange; all under the oversight of SCDOT and FHWA, Valetti said.
Additional improvements in this project that will be completed by the middle of 2019 include:
• The extension of the 4th auxiliary lane on I-85 Northbound and the addition of another lane Southbound between I-385 and Pelham Road. This means the road will be four lanes wide between these two exits.
• The widening of I-385 from four-lanes to six-lanes between Butler Road to Roper Mountain Road.
• The construction of new interchange bridges, including two flyovers that will replace the existing loop ramps that tie I-85 from and to I-385.
• The reconstruction and enhancement of the traffic signal system on Woodruff Road between Ketron Court and Highway 14. Also, flood warning signs will added on I-85 near Rocky Creek.
• The construction of additional turn lanes and reconstruction of 3 intersections on Woodruff Road between I-85 and I-385.
The $231 million project is being financed in part with funding from Act 98 of 2013 which provided the SCDOT with additional funding for bridge, resurfacing and mainline interstate projects. Additional funding is being provided by the Federal Interstate Improvement Program and Greenville-Pickens Area Transportation Study Committee (GPATS), Valetti said.
Construction is scheduled to be finished by the middle of 2019 and during this time, SCDOT will be celebrating its 100th anniversary and the Gateway Project will play a key role in this centennial celebration, Valetti said.
About the 85-385 Gateway Project
The 85-385 Gateway Interchange Improvement Project will provide an economic boost to the Upstate, improve safety for the traveling public, and increase the capacity of this Interchange to function more efficiently for many years to come. Average daily traffic volume at this interchange is 190,000 vehicles per day making this one of the busiest interchanges in South Carolina. At $231 million, it is the second largest transportation project in South Carolina History. Learn more at www.85385gateway.com.
