Two years after its contractor walked off a signal improvement project in Commerce and Jefferson, the Department of Transportation has a company on the job.
DOT spokesperson Terri Pope said Surety Construction Services resumed work on the $754,000 project on Monday.
The original contractor, Atlas Traffic Management Systems, Marietta, walked off the job in February 2008.
“They left the job one day and never came back,” Pope said. The company was 55 percent through the job when workers left.
Atlas’ bonding company, R.J. Haynie and Associates, hired Surety Construction Services to complete the project.
In Commerce, the project comprises new signals for the lights at the intersections of Washington Street and Maysville Road, Broad and Elm streets at Jefferson Road; and Broad and Elm streets at Central Avenue.
In Jefferson, the project comprises new signals at the intersections of Lee, Sycamore and Gordon streets and Lee and Athens Street.
The signals in each town are designed to be coordinated with each other to improve traffic flow.
Work remaining to be done includes installation and wiring of cabinets that house the “brains” of the signals, the hanging and wiring of the new signal lights, pouring of concrete for sidewalks and ramps, concrete footing and final striping.
“They (Atlas) got started at every intersection but did not complete any,” Pope said. “We are very excited that work has resumed on it today.”
