Tunneling for the underpass begins in Suwanee

Festival and concert goers who have ever had to park at Suwanee's Old Town and stagger across the train tracks that run along Buford Highway in the city of Suwanee in fear of an impending train won't have to worry about crossing the tracks again.

Earlier this week crews started the much anticipated construction on the pedestrian tunnel that will link historic Old Town Suwanee with the Town Center Park area.

According to Steve Williams, a Norfolk Southern representative and railroad flagman for the project said his responsibility is to ensure the safety of the trains and to protect the crew.

"First of all, we coordinate the construction with the companies that are involved," said Williams. "Then secondly, I coordinate the train schedules in relation to what they (the workers) are doing."

Williams explained there are certain things the crew will do to secure the railroad. Then the train will run once the railroad is completely secure. Once the train passes, the crew will resume their work.

"The tunnel itself is complete as it progresses," he said. "In other words, there's never a point to where there's just an open hole."

The crew plans to work around the clock to get the tunnel constructed, and they hope to complete the 62-foot tunnel portion of the project in about two weeks. Workers expect to do most of digging using pneumatic tools and a small excavator.

City officials estimate the project in its entirety should be completed in early 2009.

Bradshaw Construction Corporation of Ellicott City, Md., is the company working on the construction of the tunnel, and JJE Constructors, Inc. of Norcross is the general contractor overseeing the construction of the project.

The project is funded in part by a Livable Cities Grant of almost $1 million that the city received from the Atlanta Regional Commission.
- www.gwinnettherald.com

Sphere: Related Content