CLEVELAND – The Georgia Department of Transportation is expected to open bids on the construction of phase 3 of the Cleveland bypass on Friday

Sen. Steve Gooch, (R-Dahlonega) who has championed this project from the time he was on the GDOT Board until he was elected to the senate, said, “I’m excited. I’ll be watching their website closely. They could post the apparent low bidder Friday afternoon.

Phase 3 will divert traffic around a heavily congested downtown Cleveland from Hwy. 129 to Hwy. 75 (Helen Highway) along Hulsey Road which will be widened to four lanes.

“This is something I’ve been involved in since day 1,” Gooch said. “I did my best to push it to the forefront when I got to the senate.”

The project has been estimated to cost in excess of $15 million. “There have been a lot of contractors bid on this, so the price may get bid down a good bit,” he said.

The price tag is certain to be less than the first two phases which cost about $20 million because this one will be built along an existing roadway.

Gooch added, “Hulsey Road will remain open the whole time although there will be delays, as you would expect with any road project.”

GDOT spokeswoman Katie Strickland has said there will be a pre-construction conference with contractors in late July.

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