02-05-2025
Buena Vista Interchange project update
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — In Columbus, a major interchange project is nearing completion.
State leaders and transportation officials gathered to discuss updates on the Buena Vista Interchange project. The $47 million project aims to reconstruct the interchange at Buena Vista Road and I-185. Now, it is almost 80% complete.
State Representatives, Carolyn Hugley and Teddy Reese joined Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) officials to walk the site and share project details.
The project's concept report was approved in late 2016, and a bidder was selected in 2020. However, the pandemic caused some delays. The construction challenges laid out by GDOT's project update include, 'Contractor and Utility owners faced delays in sourcing materials following pandemic supply shortages. Smaller work crews or delayed activities due to smaller labor market.' as well as the interchange being open to traffic for the entirety of construction, 'Challenges and risks are inherent when keeping a project site open while undertaking a large-scale construction project. '
State Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Administrator for the GDOT, Kenneth Franks, said, 'We definitely experienced supply chain issues on multiple facets of the projects from just construction materials for the actual roadway and utility supplies.'
Despite pandemic delays and utility relocations, the GDOT says the project now remains on schedule.
The project replaces an existing bridge with a wider and modified to accommodate a Diverging Diamond, a sidewalk on the south side, and a multi-use trail on the north side.
Representatives believe the project will serve as a transportation upgrade as well as an economic draw for the area.
Rep. Teddy Reese, (D-Columbus) said, 'A few years back, the citizens of this area were wise enough to pass a TSPLOST, and what that did was that contributed funds so that we could… build the bridges and the roads and do the special projects that we needed to accommodate the growth that we have here in Columbus.'
Reese continued, 'One thing I think everyone is going to appreciate is this beautiful new bridge when it's done, and how well it's going to look in this area, how well it's going to help bring up this area. When you think about economic development, you have to think about the ability to move people, the ability of folks to get around, and also just the aesthetics of the community.'
Representatives Hugley and Reese both thanked the community for their patience and said this transformation will be worth the wait.
Hugley said, 'You know, we have construction going on here as well as down at the spider web, citizens in my community are being inconvenienced. I get that. It's important to really thank our citizens for, number one, having the vision to vote for the TSPLOST and invest in our community. And two, to encourage them to be patient as we move through this process. We are in what we want to call the messy middle. And the end result is going to be a beautiful interchange here.'
Leaders announced that when construction is finished, the bridge will be known as the Maretta Mitchell Taylor Interchange. Hugley said, 'We're so excited that we are standing on what will be the Maretta Mitchell Taylor interchange to honor the first African-American representative that was a female from this area… this was part of her district while she was in the legislature. I'm encouraged that this is going to be a wonderful tribute to her, and it's going to make traveling in this area a lot more convenient for our citizens.'
Official estimate substantial completion by fall of this year and final completion of the project in 2026.
Community members can track the progress of this and other projects on the GDOT website.
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