I don't know if it is the DOT or private contractors but almost all road projects drag on way too long. I understand weather and unexpected delays with utilities and such, but most of the time we have rough roads and barrels for months at a time without seeing any work being done.

The projects drag on for years because of the people getting paid. Ever look at the groups of people standing around a road project with only a few really working?

I didn't think it was the ring the local politicians kissed....

It is the ring. It is called the Spinctor Ring.

Projects drag on partially because it brings in revenue. The longer they can keep up those construction zones, the longer the county can doubble the speeding fines. It could be solved if GA's law was "Speeding fines doubbled, when workers are present", like in Alabama (as painful as that is for a GA boy to say)

I want someone to explain to me why the State will pay for 100' of resurfacing to a contractor then the same contractor will come back the next year and resurface another 100'? How much is the state paying to move machinery and labor to pave 100'?

Sphincter Ring

Contractors are not held accountable. Look at US 441 between Irwinton and Dublin. The northbound lanes have been closed for two years due to the terrible construction. Now, the DOT has to put out another bid to repair the original job because the original project exceeded the 10% cost over-run allowance. The contractor paid nothing but made an additional 10% for something that is unusable.

Here we go again!!!!!!
I don't know if its telepathy or just plain co-incident, but I read in the Telegraph on Tuesday that Mayor Reichert wants the DOT to scale back on the proposed I-16 and I-75 interchange in Macon.I sat down to draft a response to it last night. This morning to my suprise there is a write up about DOT putting a hold on all road projects until a study can be held for prioritizing. Well Macon and Bibb County has dilly dallied around about this project for almost 10 years or perhaps longer, I'm not sure. At any rate, what I am getting to is, I remember back in the fifties and early sixties there was a road started that was to be and expressway from Columbus to Augusta by way of Ft.Valley through Macon to Augusta. Somewhere inside of Bibb the road stalled, thus becoming known as the Cornfield Road. It ended at Hawkinsville road(247). When I transfered to Florida from Robins in "63 it was still standing at that point. However, after I retired in '72 and moved back to Macon it finally was completed from 247 south to Hwy 49 but never from 247 north through Macon. Then there is the Little Richard Pennyman expressway that was to come from Mercer to second and down second St.through Macon. It ended at Telfair. And The new Expressway that was to come from Columbus by way of Ft.Valley which when entering into Bibb has drawn a blank also, ending up at Edgewood Ave. with no progress through Macon to join up with the Gordon Hwy to Augusta.
Now we have a chance to gain a major thoroughfare through Macon that perhaps could be a drawing card to Venues in Macon by way of travelers. At the present it seems as though we are going to prolong this project until it is not note worthy or maybe even lose it altogether. It may seem a bit much for now, but what about the future, Do we want Macon to remain a hick town in a big city dwelling in a small city setting? Come on Macon lets move to the present and stop trying to live in the past. We have enough problems now trying to cope with two governments trying to run a small city,which is already costing the citizens and arm and a leg in trumped up taxes. And now the BOE is talking about adding more taxes.

Improve our roads in our poor neighborhoods!