Project Details
Rivian, an American electric vehicle manufacturer, announced plans in late 2021 to build a factory on a 2,000-acre site in Rutledge, GA. The $5 billion-dollar project located adjacent to I-20 approximately 45 miles east of Atlanta is touted as one of Georgia’s largest-ever economic development projects.
C.W. Matthews’ ongoing Old Mill Interchange design-build project is a critical piece of that puzzle, with GDOT and state officials aligning infrastructure upgrades to support the expected influx of workers, suppliers, and logistics traffic.
Project Overview
+ Contract Value: $49,589,434
+ Bid Date: September 21, 2023
+ Notice to Proceed: June 25, 2024
+ Contract Completion: December 23, 2025
Project Scope
+ Provide Direct Interstate Access: The project’s primary intent is to provide new direct access to Old Mill Road and ultimately the Rivian Plant site.
+ Widening Old Mill Road: Widening from a two-lane to a four-lane roadway with a 20-foot grass median, complete with bike lanes north of I-20 and sidewalks.
+ New Overpass Bridge Construction: Building a new overpass bridge (Old Mill Road) to replace the existing outdated structure. Once the new bridge construction is complete, the existing structure will be demolished. The Contract allows for a 3-month detour of existing Old Mill Road during bridge demolition and eventual activation of the new alignment.
+ Roundabouts Implementation: Introducing two roundabouts at the ramp termini at either end of the new structure intended to improve traffic flow.
Project Successes
A critical aspect of the successful best value selection by GDOT was the Design Build group’s pre-bid optimization of the project design which eliminated over 200,000 CY of borrow material as well as elimination of several retaining walls. Project manager, Matt Lanier, offered the following as a major factor in the project’s operational success to date. “Applying lessons from past projects—both successes and failures—has helped us to adjust our approach to planning, communication, and job management on the Old Mill Road Project. By learning from previous experiences of those that are on the job or in our division, we can anticipate potential obstacles as the job progresses and adjust our plans accordingly. As a division, it’s essential that we continuously grow in our creativity and problem-solving skills, thinking outside the box to tackle complex challenges more effectively and efficiently.”
Sister Project
CWM reached substantial completion on the adjacent $ 48M US278 Frontage Road project in February 2024 - 130 days ahead of schedule. The Old Mill project ties directly into the US278 Frontage Road project and carries that momentum forward and is similarly at a pace to finish months ahead of schedule and below budget.
In summary, the Old Mill Interchange Project continues CWM impressive resume as GDOT’s largest and most successful design-build partner and continues our vital role in support of economic growth initiatives in the State.
Rutledge, Georgia
