Contract Awarded for I-85 West Point Interchange Project

Project will serve new Kia plant, associated growth

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue and Georgia Department of Transportation officials today announced the award of an $81 million contract for the construction of a new interchange on Interstate 85 in Troup County. The interchange and related new surface roads will serve the City of West Point and the Kia Motors automobile manufacturing facility being built nearby.

"We all look forward to the day when that first Georgia-built Kia rolls off the assembly line," Governor Perdue said. "In the meantime, we must make sure we are preparing for the growth that the plant, suppliers and additional economic activity will bring to the area."

The contract – issued in accordance with Georgia DOT revised rules for design-build awards – is with C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc., of Marietta, and totals $80,857,486.98. Work is expected to begin within weeks and be complete by Dec. 31, 2008.

"This is precisely the type of project we envisioned as benefiting from a design/build approach," Georgia Transportation Commissioner Harold Linnenkohl said, "one that will provide a huge benefit and must be expedited. Consolidating much of the design and construction phases into one contract will save us years on a project that doesn’t have years to spare. It has been a great collaborative effort by local, state, and federal agencies to this point. And now we have an excellent contractor on board as well."

The interchange will be located approximately at milepost 6 on I-85. It will be a "diamond" configuration linking to a relocated Gabbettville Road. The project also includes several local road improvements in the area to provide access to the Kia facility and also a four-lane frontage road linking Gabbettville with State Route 18 in West Point.

The state has completed virtually all site preparation, and Kia is expected to begin construction of its automotive manufacturing facility soon. The plant, which is slated to begin operations in 2009, will employ 2,800 workers.

The Georgia Department of Transportation is committed to providing a safe, seamless and sustainable transportation system that supports Georgia’s economy and is sensitive to both its citizens and its environment. For general information on the Georgia DOT, please visit our website (www.dot.state.ga.us).