August 30, 2022
CONTACT: Lindsey Wiles
Communications Manager
lwiles@mariettaga.gov
770.794.5509
MARIETTA – Recently, during the Annual American Public Works Association Georgia Chapter’s Conference, the City of Marietta’s Public Works Department received the Public Works Project of the Year Award for the Pickens Industrial Bridge Replacement which was completed in May 2022.
The APWA Georgia Chapter Public Works Project of the Year award was established to promote excellence in the management and administration of public works projects by recognizing the alliance between the managing agency, the consultant/architect/engineer, and the contractor who, working together, complete public works projects.
On September 7th and 8th, 2021, a storm system moved through the Marietta and East Cobb area that released 5 to 8 inches of water in a few hours. Much of this water flowed into the Sope Creek drainage basin which passed through the culvert at Pickens Industrial Drive, causing this culvert to fail. The Transportation Division of Public Works received a call early on September 8th and was able to engage the City’s emergency contractor, Ardito Construction, to begin stabilizing the area allowing the businesses located on the other side of the culvert to remove equipment and materials until a temporary solution could be installed. As the world was still in the middle of the pandemic, construction materials were scare. The City reached out to Tidwell Construction as they had materials to construct a temporary bridge to restore the crossing. After a series of field meetings, Public Works came up with an option to install a temporary one-way bridge to give City employees a time to design a permanent bridge. City engineers and staff developed a final solution and construction begin in early 2022. Construction was completed in May 2022.
The Pickens Industrial Bridge Project would not have been selected for this prestigious recognition without a team effort. The Mayor & City Council, City Manager, Public Works Director, department heads, and other staff supported the efforts to re-open the area as quickly as possible. Within less than a year from the initial washout, the bridge was reopened to traffic. The project had its challenges, but with dedicated crews and teamwork among many departments throughout the city, the result was a well-made, finished product that served the needs of the businesses in the area and will be dependable for many years.