Education Edition - 1736 Magazine, Fall 2019

LEFT: Projects in “Band 2” of the sales tax-funded
transportation improvements in downtown Augusta include a
$9.1 million repair and restoration of the Fifth Street bridge over
the Savannah River, which could be converted to a pedestrianonly
bridge. [JOE HOTCHKISS/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE]
The priciest project completed so far is the $8.3 million
reconstruction of John C. Calhoun Expressway, which
funnels commuters in and out of downtown at 13th and
15th streets.
Under construction now with about a year to go is a
$5 million upgrade to 15th Street, to include medians,
repaving and improved access by people with disabilities
between Calhoun and Central Avenue.
“We put the emphasis on the street portion first,” said
John Ussery, the city’s traffic engineer. “We wanted to
finish the roadway first so we can lessen the impact on
traffic.”
Going in later is a new eight-foot multi-use path
accessible by both pedestrians and bicyclists on the east
side of 15th, he said.
The 15th Street project is in the 10-year tax’s Band 2,
meaning all projects must be under way by the end of
2019.
Also in Band 2 are a $6.2 million reconstruction of
James Brown Boulevard and a $9.1 million repair and
restoration of the Fifth Street bridge over the Savannah
River.
City leaders have said the bridge likely will be converted
to a pedestrian-only bridge.
The downtown streetscape projects, which captured
the public’s imagination during a series of 2016 input
sessions, are in Band 3 of the tax and must be ready for
construction by the end of 2022 when the tax expires.
Ussery said the plan is to start with Telfair and 13th
streets.
On Telfair, $19 million is budgeted for resurfacing,
curb and gutter, storm drainage and streetscape work
between 15th Street and East Boundary.
The same treatment for $3.1 million is planned for 13th
between R.A. Dent Boulevard and Reynolds Street.
“The current plan is to start with Telfair and 13th then
proceed to the numbered streets then to Greene and
Broad at the end of the process,” Ussery said.
Fifth and Sixth streets were budgeted a combined $14
million for resurfacing, curb and gutter, storm drainage
and streetscape work.
The priciest project downtown is Broad, budgeted at
$25 million that is not expected to cover the entirety of
work between Washington and Sand Bar Ferry roads.
A team assembling a project list for the next sales tax
has included another $50 million to continue the curb
and gutter, streetscape, storm drainage and resurfacing
work on Broad.
Ambitious plans to reshape downtown streets, such as depicted in this artist rendition of an improved Broad Street near the Augusta
Common, are several years in the future. [SPECIAL]
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