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.
A major Georgia Department of Transportation project on Taylor’s Ridge is expected to move into construction later this fall, with current project information listing November 17 as the anticipated start date.
A major Georgia Department of Transportation project planned for U.S. 27 over Taylor’s Ridge is intended to address a problem that has challenged highway crews for decades — an unstable mountainside where groundwater, steep slopes and the underlying geology have repeatedly contributed to movement of the roadway.
WZQZ News previously reported on the upcoming Taylor Ridge project, but a closer look at Georgia DOT records shows the work is considerably more than routine highway maintenance.
The project is officially designated PI No. 0015413, “SR 1/U.S. 27 at Taylors Ridge – Phase II.” GDOT classifies the work as slope repair and reconstruction/rehabilitation along approximately 0.21 mile of U.S. 27 in Chattooga County.
The reason for the project becomes clearer when looking at the history and geology of Taylor Ridge.
Government geological studies of the U.S. 27 cut through Taylor Ridge document layers of shale, sandstone and other rock, along with groundwater moving through the formations. In fact, drainage of the mountainside has been an issue for more than six decades. A Georgia geological study documented 83 horizontal drainage wells drilled into the rock above U.S. 27 specifically to divert groundwater away from the highway fill. Those wells were between 39 and 147 feet deep, and their discharge increased substantially following periods of heavy rainfall.
That groundwater is important because water moving through a steep road cut can contribute to weakening and movement of soil and rock surrounding the highway.
The problems aren’t new. By 2019, the north side of U.S. 27 on Taylor Ridge had again experienced significant movement. At the time, Georgia DOT said it was evaluating a permanent solution after a portion of the northbound roadway dropped several inches in a short period. Temporary paving, warning devices and lane restrictions were used while engineers studied a longer-lasting repair.
The state subsequently completed an earlier stabilization project. GDOT’s records show PI No. 0015412, described as slide stabilization on U.S. 27/SR 1 at Taylor Ridge, was awarded for approximately $1.59 million, with an April 2021 completion date.
The upcoming work is Phase II of the effort.
And GDOT considers the project significant from a transportation-resiliency standpoint. In the department’s Resilience Improvement Plan, the Taylor Ridge project received Class 3 ratings for criticality, vulnerability and risk and was placed in the plan’s first-priority category.
The scope and cost also illustrate that this isn’t simply another resurfacing job. GDOT’s current Statewide Transportation Improvement Program lists the total project cost at approximately $9.85 million, including about $8.75 million for construction, $500,000 for right-of-way and $100,000 for utilities. The project maintains the existing two-lane configuration rather than widening U.S. 27.
The project has now moved another major step toward construction. GDOT included PI 0015413 in its September 18, 2026 construction letting, identifying the U.S. 27 project in Chattooga County as approximately 0.208 mile long.
Taken together, the records show why so much work has been required at Taylor Ridge over the years: U.S. 27 crosses a steep mountainside with complex rock formations and documented groundwater movement, and portions of the highway have a history of settling and sliding. The Phase II project is designed as a slope repair rather than another temporary paving fix.
U.S. 27 over Taylor Ridge is one of Chattooga County’s most important transportation links, carrying traffic between Summerville and Rome and serving commuters, commercial vehicles and emergency traffic every day.
WZQZ News will continue following the project as Georgia DOT moves from bidding into construction and more information becomes available about the work schedule and traffic impacts.
A long-planned Georgia Department of Transportation project aimed at repairing the slopes along Taylor Ridge in Chattooga County has reached the bidding stage.
A small bridge on Spring Creek Road near Trion is expected to reopen by the end of August following an emergency replacement project prompted by safety concerns.
Motorists traveling through Summerville should expect delays this week as paving work continues on Highland Avenue.
The City of Summerville announced that road paving and infrastructure improvements will take place Monday, July 27, through Friday, July 31, along Highland Avenue between Third Street and Sixth Avenue.
Construction crews will be working each day from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. During those hours, drivers should expect temporary traffic delays in and around the work zone.
City officials encourage motorists to allow extra travel time, use alternate routes when possible and exercise caution while traveling through the area to help keep both workers and drivers safe.
The paving project is part of the city’s ongoing efforts to maintain and improve local streets and infrastructure
Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen has announced that the county is accepting sealed bids for a major road resurfacing project funded through the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG/LRA) Program.
The project includes 18.54 miles of road resurfacing throughout Chattooga County. Contractors will provide both labor and materials for the paving work. Roads identified as newly constructed dirt roads will receive 2.5 inches of asphalt, while resurfacing projects on existing roads will receive 1.25 inches of asphalt.
A complete list of roads included in the project is available from the Commissioner’s Office or online at www.chattoogacounty.gov.
Sealed bids must be clearly marked “Sealed Bid” and delivered to the Commissioner’s Office at 10102 Commerce Street, Summerville, by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 24, 2026. Bids will be opened during the Commissioner’s meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 10 a.m.
Contractors submitting bids must include a 10 percent bid bond, carry at least $1 million in general liability insurance, maintain workers’ compensation coverage, and be properly licensed to conduct business in Georgia. The county also requires contractors to provide a drug-free workplace for employees working on the project.
Commissioner Allen noted that the county reserves the right to reject any or all bids.
Representatives from the Georgia Department of Transportation addressed the public Monday ahead of the Rome City Commission meeting, providing an update on the ongoing Second Avenue widening project.
Traveling into downtown Rome by way of Second Avenue has been a source of frustration for many drivers as the ongoing road construction project continues.
Representatives from the Georgia Department of Transportation District 6 will provide a public informational update on the Second Avenue widening project on Monday, May 11, 2026. The presentation is scheduled from 5 until 6 PM in the City Commission Chambers upstairs at Rome City Hall.
GDOT officials are expected to share updates on construction progress, project timelines, and ongoing work related to the widening project.
State Representative Katie Dempsey of Rome thanked GDOT District 6 officials for continuing to communicate with local leaders and residents throughout the process.
The presentation will also be livestreamed through the City of Rome YouTube Channel, the same way regular Rome City Commission meetings are streamed
After decades of discussion, the Summerville bypass is taking a visible step forward as demolition begins and early work gets underway.