Buena Vista Road Improvements at Spiderweb

This $44 million overpass eases congestion along the busy half-mile “Spiderweb” section of Buena Vista Road in Columbus, Georgia. Trains that entered the Columbus railyards had long been causing significant traffic delays for motorists traveling to Midtown and Downtown Columbus. Funded through the Transportation Investment Act (TIA), the overpass project eliminated the Norfolk Southern Railroad at-grade crossing on Buena Vista Road, near MLK Boulevard. Additionally, it replaced a second bridge over Bull Creek near St. Marys Road and Buena Vista Road due to safety concerns. Nearby roads, including Ilges Road, Morris Road, and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, also received substantial upgrades.

CHA coordinated with Norfolk Southern Railroad to minimize disruptions to rail operations. We conducted an in-depth traffic study, which resulted in the incorporation of three signal designs, three roundabouts, and a connector road. The project’s staging complexity necessitated the installation of four temporary signals. We also completed subsurface utility engineering (SUE) inspections in the utility-heavy corridor. The project also required two sizable retaining walls.

This relocation enhances corridor safety and alleviates congestion associated with the train crossings. The addition of murals celebrating Columbus’ heritage beautify the corridor, while multi-use trail connectivity fosters links between the Dragonfly trail network, schools, parks, churches, and residences.