A major Georgia Department of Transportation project on U.S. Highway 27 at Taylor’s Ridge has taken another step toward construction, with Wilson Construction Management, LLC of Norcross listed as the apparent low bidder at $4,076,759.

The project covers approximately 0.208 mile of U.S. 27/S.R. 1 at Taylor’s Ridge in Chattooga County and is designed to address the long-running slope stability problems along the mountain.

Five contractors submitted bids for the project during GDOT’s September 18 letting. Wilson Construction Management submitted the lowest bid at just over $4.07 million.

The other bids ranged from approximately $7.44 million to $9 million, meaning the apparent low bid came in more than $3 million below the next-lowest proposal.

WZQZ News has previously reported that the work is officially designated GDOT Project 0015413, Taylor’s Ridge Phase II. The project is intended to provide a more permanent repair to a section of the mountain where groundwater, steep terrain and underlying rock formations have contributed to movement of the roadway over the years.

GDOT’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program had previously estimated $8.75 million for the construction phase, with the overall project estimated at approximately $9.85 million when engineering, right-of-way, utilities and construction are included.

Current construction information lists an anticipated November 17 start date.

U.S. 27 across Taylor’s Ridge is one of Chattooga County’s primary transportation routes, connecting Summerville and the rest of the county with Rome and Floyd County.

WZQZ News will continue following the project as GDOT moves toward construction and additional information becomes available concerning the work schedule and potential traffic impacts.