Gwinnett Firm To Build County's First 'Diverging Diamond'

The Gwinnett company that developed the McGinnis Ferry Road overpass over I-85 in Suwanee has landed another key traffic project.

The E.R. Snell Co. of Snellville will build the couty's first "diverging diamond" interchange on I-85, at Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth, according to a county news release. Construction should begin this summer.

E.R. Snell Contractor Inc. of Snellville was the lowest of three bidders at just under $4.3 million, which will come from SPLOST funds, the news release said. The work involves widening a half-mile of roadway plus new retaining walls, curb and gutter, sidewalks and traffic signals. The timing of other signals approaching the intersection will also get adjustments to ensure smooth traffic flow.

Gwinnett Transportation Director Kim Conroy said, “The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District has worked closely with our traffic engineers on the new design, which is similar to the diverging diamond that opened recently on Ashford-Dunwoody Road at I-285 near Perimeter Mall. We estimate this will extend the useful life of the existing bridge by about 10 years with no widening needed.”

The project is expected to be complete within a year.

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