“I am especially proud of the GDOT team and their accomplishments in winning these awards,” said Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry, who presented the awards. “These design awards include prime examples of how partnerships and teamwork - whether within GDOT or through collaborations with the business community, coalitions and local governments - contribute to successful transportation endeavors.”

Winner Category 8:

Cleveland Bypass – Phase 2
Category: Highway Design – Rural

Bridges designed by Doug Franks and Kevin Schwartz

Plans for bridges on this project drawn by Mark Coleman

Tanker truck crash closes part of I-285 in Atlanta eTrucker Staff

Published June, 20 2001

An accident that involved two small cars and a gasoline tanker truck has shut down four lanes of Interstate 285 in Atlanta for weeks while workers repair the elevated bypass.

In the early hours of June 9, Sean Mulqueeny of St. Louis, drove his 1999 Honda Accord eastbound on I-285 and struck a 1994 Toyota Tercel driven by Venus Johnson of Forest Park, Ga., while he tried to make a lane change. Mulqueeny pulled to the side of the road, but Johnson left her vehicle in traffic.

Jacob Phiri of Norcross, Ga., who drove the tanker, was entering the Interstate from Georgia Highway 400. The entrance ramp is U-shaped, and Phiri’s vision was blocked as he drove onto the Interstate. The truck hit the rear of Johnson’s Toyota, flipped on its side and skidded 300 feet into a concrete barrier.

Approximately 1,000 gallons of gasoline spilled from the truck and immediately ignited. The fire engulfed the I-285 bridge over Highway 400 and damaged the superstructure and substructure.

Four lanes of the highway have been closed, and officials expect them to remain closed for two months. Transportation officials pleaded with commuters to consider alternate routes to work Monday to avoid traffic delays. They also ask truckers to avoid the area during peak travel times.

I-285 is a major artery around the city of Atlanta and already was considered one of the most clogged highways in the city even before the accident.

Neither automobile driver was hurt in the accident. Mulqueeny was cited for following too closely. Phiri, who was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and released, was not charged with any crimes or violations.

Repairs near completion. Elapsed time from accident to repair plan preparation to completion was approximately 5 weeks. This was possible due to the efforts of many dedicated employees, not only in the GDOT bridge office, but throughout the GDOT as well as the contractors involved.

Fulton Co., International Blvd. Extension to the Georgia Dome (Techwood to World Congress Center), Plate Girders, Type 5 PSC,

Designer: Barry Brown

The goal was to have this bridge built in time for the 1996 Alanta Olympic Games, which was accomplished. Prior to construction of the bridge, International Boulevard ended just ahead of the red stucture in the top right of the above picture. It was about a 90 foot drop straight down at that point. Also, the green park area to the right was filled in after the bridge was built, before that you could see underneath the bridge from this vantage point. The bridge continues around the corner and intersects Techwood Avenue (now called Centennial Olympic Park Dr.).

Belair Rd. (S.R. 383) over I-20, Columbia County

Emergency repair plans prepared for bridge after dump truck with dump in up position damaged deck, several beams and diaphragms. Repair plans for this and other damaged bridges are, by their nature, time sensitive. I have helped prepare repair plans for this and many other damaged bridges just like the I-285 over Ga. 400 bridge mentioned above.

Designer for this repair: Steve Wyche