GDOT's Bridge Project Over SR 293, CSX Railroad Advances

Progress on GDOT's $30.1M SR 3/U.S. 41 bridge project over SR 293, CSX Railroad in Barstow County by C.W. Matthews Contracting Co. Inc. Good pace with the northbound bridge complete, aiming for project completion by April 2027. Crews focus on roadways, bridges, installing new drainage systems, and aim to minimize disruptions to traffic. Various machinery, materials like concrete, steel, asphalt, and a focused approach to safety evident on-site. Operations running smoothly with ongoing focus on project delivery.

March 11, 2026 - Southeast Edition #6
Irwin Rapoport – CEG Correspondent

GDOT photo

C.W. Matthews Contracting Co. Inc. is making steady progress on the Georgia Department of Transportation’s $30.1 million State Route 3/U.S. 41 bridges over State Route 293 and CSX Railroad project.

The work on the project began on June 26, 2023, with C.W. Matthews expected to deliver the project by April 25, 2027. (GDOT photo
)

Materials-wise, C.W. Matthews is using concrete, steel, asphalt and aggregate, as well as installing storm drains. (GDOT photo)

The major structures that have been constructed are the wall on the northeast side of the project and the new northbound bridge over the railroad. (GDOT photo
)

C.W. Matthews Contracting Co. Inc. is making steady progress on the Georgia Department of Transportation's (GDOT) $30.1 million State Route 3/U.S. 41 bridges over State Route 293 and CSX Railroad project that is constructing northbound and southbound bridges in the city of Emerson in Barstow County, Ga.

The work on the project began on June 26, 2023, with C.W. Matthews expected to deliver the project by April 25, 2027.

"The northbound bridge is completed," said Joe Schulman, a GDOT spokesman. "Once the new roadway is installed, traffic will be shifted to the new northbound alignment. At that time, coordination will be done with the railroad to schedule the removal of the old bridge. Upon removal, the new southbound bridge and roadway will be built."

Preliminary planning for the project, which will replace two existing bridges built in 1951, began in 2018. The project was designed by Kimley-Horn.

The new three-span bridges, 355 ft. long, will have two lanes in each direction, 4-ft. wide inner shoulders and 8-ft. wide outer shoulders.

Crews are reconstructing the roadway approaches to the bridges, building a large retaining wall on SR 3/U.S. 41 just north of the bridge under construction, installing new drainage structures and partially reconstructing SR 293 under the bridges.

The traffic management plan is based on shifting motorists to one of the bridges at a time while the new bridge and roadway are being built.

"This is a typical staging sequence when replacing sections of roadways and/or bridges," Schulman said

The major structures that have been constructed are the wall on the northeast side of the project and the new northbound bridge over the railroad.

"Work is progressing as planned," said Schulman, who noted that this is primarily a day shift operation and that there are few water, soil and utility issues affecting operations.

The plan for the bridges is to construct one at a time. Materials-wise, C.W. Matthews is using concrete, steel, asphalt and aggregate, as well as installing storm drains.

"Excavation was required for the bridge and wall foundations," Schulman said.

For the building of the northbound bridge, equipment operators are using Link-Belt 238 crawler cranes; Cat excavators; track hoes; rollers; various types of loaders; and other standard pieces of iron, which also are aiding the other project elements.

Ensuring the safety of its personnel is a prime concern for C.W. Matthews, This illustrated by rope and harness system attached to a wall and a bridge that permitted a worker to examine and prepare a large vertical section of rebar.

Peak days have several C.W. Matthews crew and subcontractor employees on site.

The total of materials generated by excavation operations hasn't been finalized, nor have the amounts of new materials to be brought in.

C.W. Matthews, which has many ongoing projects in the state, owns and operates a large fleet supplied by local and regional dealerships. To ensure that operations proceed smoothly, the company has onsite mechanics to deal with daily wear-and-tear issues and routine maintenance. CEG

Irwin Rapoport

A journalist who started his career at a weekly community newspaper, Irwin Rapoport has written about construction and architecture for more than 15 years, as well as a variety of other subjects, such as recycling, environmental issues, business supply chains, property development, pulp and paper, agriculture, solar power and energy, and education. Getting the story right and illustrating the hard work and professionalism that goes into completing road, bridge, and building projects is important to him. A key element of his construction articles is to provide readers with an opportunity to see how general contractors and departments of transportation complete their projects and address challenges so that lessons learned can be shared with a wider audience.

Rapoport has a BA in History and a Minor in Political Science from Concordia University. His hobbies include hiking, birding, cycling, reading, going to concerts and plays, hanging out with friends and family, and architecture. He is keen to one day write an MA thesis on military and economic planning by the Great Powers prior to the start of the First World War.