08/19/2014

DOT_sign-8-19-14(Cleveland)– Georgia Department of Transportation has announced road changes for Cleveland after Labor Day in connection with the construction of the Cleveland Bypass.  Beginning  September 3rd, traffic on State Route 11/US 129 will be shifted west from O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Store to the Dollar General Store.  This traffic shift will open up a continuous center turn lane from O’Reilly’s to Hope Drive.  North of Hope Drive SR 11 will  not have a center turn lane.  

This shift will allow crews to have more room as the grade of SR 11 is raised.   Also on September 3rd, Donald Thurmond Parkway at State Route 11/US 129 will be closed for the grade of the road  to be  raised by 12 feet. The contractor is required to complete the work and reopen the road in 20 days.

Harold Mull, Georgia DOT District Construction Engineer said, “With such a significant grade change, traffic cannot continue to use the roadway as the work occurs. The detour route will direct traffic up SR 11 to Old Highway75 then south to Donald Thurmond Parkway allowing access to Walmart.

The work being done now is on phase one, as for the second phase Teri Pope Spokeswoman for GDOT, speaking on WRWH  Tuesday morning said they expect the bids on that phase to go out in October with an award  hopefully made the following month.  Pope said, We hope to open bids in November and award the contract and you could see construction next Spring.”  

( to hear the complete interview with Teri Pope click the play button below