The last Board of Commissioners meeting of 2023 saw the approval of a $158,000 design service contract between Bulloch County and Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., for the Brannen Pond Road Drainage Project. The design service is preliminary to the reconstruction of a section of the road that has been closed to through traffic since August, when hurricane Idalia damaged the shoulder and guard rail.
With the endorsement of County Engineer Brad Deal and the funding provided by TSPLOST, Kimley-Horn was selected and will proceed with its multi-point design service plan.
Their first task is assessing and modeling the existing conditions of the road and culvert configuration. Then multiple alternative designs are simulated to create a model that may improve the capacity of the drainage system as well as the stability of the roadway for protection against future storm events.
Once a design is created within GDOT standards and approved by the county, Kimley-Horn will prepare construction documents that will be assessed and ultimately lead to an estimate of the probable cost of the project. The county is seeking FEMA reimbursement for the project and designing.
Optionally in the contract, Kimley-Horn will aid the county in permitting and grant assistance, which would then be followed by the final task, bid support and construction phase services. Kimley-Horn will assist the county by attending and conducting pre-construction conferences, reviewing GDOT specification and contractor bids, and providing construction support services through final completion of the project.
The design phase of the Brannen Pond Road Drainage Project is expected to be complete in May, and reconstruction work could last through the majority 2024.
