Engineers say end is in sight for Furys Ferry roadwork
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The Engineering Department says they are close to 80% done with the entire Furys Ferry Road project.
Contractors with E. R. Snell will continue construction activities related to the roadway-widening project for Furys Ferry next week in Columbia County.
The temporary lane closure will be on Anderson Circle at the intersection of Furys Ferry Road for paving operations.
Weather permitting, the scheduled activity will be from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. starting on Monday to Friday.
Drivers should expect delays. Please seek an alternate route if possible.
Multi-truck crash spills hazardous material on I-20
A multi-tractor trailer crash spilled hazardous material and caused traffic chaos on I-20 in North Augusta.
The temporary lane closures is associated with the roadway-widening project for Furys Ferry Road.
Whenever you approach a work zone: slow down; allow extra distance between vehicles; watch for advanced warning signs; obey road crew flaggers; and expect the unexpected. If possible, please plan to take an alternate route and/or allow additional time for commuting during this timeframe.
On Thursday, crews were working near Whitney Drive just down the road from the Neighborhood Market Walmart in Martinez.
The project has been going on for three years.
Over the summer, we told you the project was 70% complete but there have been some delays caused by Hurricane Helene.
Now, the Engineering Department says they’re close to 80% done with the entire project.
They say it may not seem like it when you’re driving down Furys Ferry Road, but a lot of foundational work like the utilities is almost complete.
Neighbors say it gives them an ease of mind knowing progress is being made.
“It’s been quite a mess,” said William Pool, who lives nearby.
People who live by Furys Ferry Road say for the past few years it has been a sea of orange cones and traffic.
“We’ve been going basically a lot of traffic, a lot of problems with the congestion, but ultimately be better once it’s all done,” said Pool.
Kevin Corey, who also lives nearby, “The traffic has slowed us down a little bit with adding the additional lanes over there, so that’s been a little bit of adjustment.”
Columbia County Engineering Services Director Kyle Titus says although it may not look like there’s been much progress, crews are through the worst of it.
“They’re still working through a handful of issues with conflicts here and there, but most of the utility work is completed,” said Titus.
Crews continue work on Augusta Canal due to Helene damage
Crews are continuing to clear away tons of debris from the Augusta Canal. It could be May at the earliest before the towpath opens.
Titus says crews are also still managing to work around debris from the storm.
It’s a challenge that puts them slightly behind schedule, but they’re managing on top of the other factors that come with this scale of a job.
“The other big challenge with this type of project is working on a live corridor that’s got live traffic all the time, not just from a logistical standpoint, with road construction crews working across the road, but it’s also a safety standpoint,” said Titus.
Neighbors say they know the headache is far from over, but they know it will be worth it if it means quality of life for a growing county.
Corey said: “We’re happy with the growth. It helps property values, but we also like the other opportunities that it’s creating for the city.”
Pool said: “I’d be happy to see it done. They’ve made a lot of progress for the last couple of years and be nice to have the road back to normal and not have a bunch of construction guys in my backyard.”
Engineering says they’re projected to be on pace to be finished by the fall of 2026.
They say in the meantime they’re continuing to implement traffic calming measures to keep the roads safe for workers, travelers, and near the school zones.
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