Gwinnett County

I-85 bridge construction causing major delays for school buses, parents say

By Tony Thomas, WSB-TV
By Tony Thomas, WSB-TV

HALL COUNTY, Ga. — Families say their children are getting home later because construction on a bridge has caused delays on their bus routes.

Crews started replacing a bridge on Spouts Spring Road over Interstate 85  two weeks ago, which has been a headache for commuters near the Gwinnett-Hall County line.

Some parents told Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Tony Thomas it has taken the buses an extra 30 to 45 minutes or longer.

"An extra 45 minutes doesn't seem like a big deal. But it is when you get up that early and you come home to have homework to do and it extends an already long day," Jim Meeker said.

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Thomas rode with Kerri and Aaron Hildreath from their home just off Braselton Highway to one of their children's schools just down the street at 1:30 p.m. Monday.

Thomas timed the trip at 45 seconds, but the Hildreaths and many of their neighbors say the detours have made the afternoon carpools horrific.

"It's absolutely gridlock and chaos on this road," Aaron Hildreath said.

The bridge replacement is part of a widening project from Gwinnett County to Jackson County. Spout Springs will be closed for another five months.

A temporary traffic light has been put up at Ga. 124 and Old Flowery Branch Road, which is the new route to take over I-85.

But parents and neighbors point out without a designated left-turn signal, cars are simply trapped and that two accidents have already happened

"It's just a matter of days before there is a fatal accident," Kerri Hildreath said.

A schools spokesperson told Thomas they've adjusted morning bus times slightly to account for traffic, but they are stuck in the afternoons.

"I've already got some gray hair but it's only going to get more so as the next five months unravels," Meeker said.

Thomas also reached out to Georgia Department of Transportation who sent this statement:

"GDOT recognizes that the mobility and safety improvements we bring to our roads, bridges and highways come with some temporary inconveniences while the work is being done. Sometimes our only alternative is a closure or detour, which can sometimes speed the completion of a project, but which we realize can create delays for motorists in the immediate area. We always work to make sure that impacts to traffic during this time are minimized as much as possible.

For example, our project team of highly qualified traffic engineers are consistently monitoring and evaluating the detour  to identify improvements and adjustments that can be made to mitigate the burden on motorists. Just last week signal timing was adjusted to address some of the delays and backups. We've also been actively sharing information that the community should be aware, plan ahead for delays and follow detour signage.

The long-term benefit of this 6 month detour will be  a new piece of infrastructure that will serve this community for decades. With a project of this size, delays should be expected and we urge motorists to plan ahead and stay alert in the construction zone. We will continue to monitor and work with our local partners to address delays and concerns related to this major mobility investment."

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