GDOT commissioner details hurricane response, estimates about $200 million in storm damage and outlines repair priorities

Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurray told the House Transportation Committee that state crews and contractors responded to widespread damage from recent storms and hurricanes, deployed inspection teams, and are using amended FY25 funds to accelerate repairs and maintenance.

McMurray said the state prepositioned crews for Hurricane Debbie, redeployed them as the storm’s path changed, and then faced a more severe impact from Hurricane Helene. "It is time to start working on the five-year federal transportation bill, which expires in September of 2026," he said, adding his view of federal leadership: "deliver, deliver, deliver." He described GDOT operations during the storms as "all hands on deck," noting coordination with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, power companies and other state agencies.

McMurray gave site-specific examples of rapid repair work: a box culvert washout on State Route 169 in Tattnall County was designed in seven days and had the first pile driven within 13 days; the bridge replacement was completed in about two months, he said. He cited a cost of about $3.4 million to replace that bridge.

On Hurricane Debbie, McMurray said nine inspection teams assessed bridges across the state once waters receded and estimated about $7 million in infrastructure damage in the areas affected by Debbie. He said the department closed and repaired several routes, including a six-day closure on U.S. 341/State Route 1 in Bryan County and an eight-day closure on U.S. 17.

Helene produced larger impacts: McMurray said GDOT recorded about 2,750 bridge inspections following Helene and reported extensive damage to traffic signals and signs. He said 19 traffic signals were significantly damaged, with some districts losing dozens of signals ("Augusta and Richmond County were actually as hard hit... with 57 signals down"). Signal repairs were estimated at about $3 million; sign replacement or maintenance so far had exceeded 16,000 signs replaced and 15,000-plus signs repaired or straightened.

Debris removal was substantial, McMurray said. He updated the committee that GDOT and contractors hauled roughly 3.7 million cubic yards of storm debris from state routes to 41 debris sites; that volume, he said, equates to a pile taller than the spire of the Empire State Building. At peak operations there were 449 debris-hauling trucks on rotation, he said. GDOT recorded more than 251,000 staff hours and more than 2,000 employees and contractors involved in response work.

McMurray said the total estimated cost for the recent hurricanes is "right at around $200,000,000," and he thanked the committee for approving an amended FY25 budget that included $200 million for routine maintenance and storm response. He said a couple of recent snow events had cost about $23 million and that the amended budget helped avoid work stoppages. "We were able to finish this fiscal year with money in the bank and not have to stop work," he told the committee.

McMurray outlined longer-term capital priorities and cost trends. He thanked the committee for prior-year investments including $1.5 billion in state general fund dollars added to the transportation budget, $98 million for airport aid and a $250 million local roads assistance program distributed by formula to cities and counties. He said the state had authorized nearly $500 million of capital construction from a $1.093 billion program and highlighted the freight program: 17 projects totaling about $900 million, which GDOT projects will yield billions in future congestion-cost savings.

On specific projects and programs, McMurray told the committee that:

- The Talmadge Bridge (Savannah) project is in engineering; GDOT has hired a specialty contractor and a specialty bridge engineer and is assessing whether the bridge deck can be raised "20-ish feet" to provide additional air draft for larger ships, but he said a timetable for construction is not yet set and activity is likely at least a year away. - The State Route 400 express lanes project reached commercial terms; construction cost is about $4.6 billion, and GDOT expects financial close in August with construction following design work, he said. - The Macon interchange project is being delivered in multiple phases and will continue for several years; several phases are underway and some will finish in the current calendar year. - GDOT identified 1,405 potential hangar spaces at local airports; GDOT estimated the cost to develop a variety of hangars at roughly $450 million and noted an amended appropriation of $7.5 million in state funds for airport aid and GTIB involvement to support hangar projects. - GDOT owns about 465 miles of short-line rail and said the state has roughly 4,600 miles of rail in total; the FY25 request list included seven rail-line projects seeking about $19 million for state-of-good-repair work to raise track standards.

McMurray also reviewed rising construction costs and commodity drivers: asphalt resurfacing costs have risen by 67 percent, bridge replacement costs about 64 percent, and various widening and drainage items have seen double-digit percentage increases, he said. He argued that accelerating investment avoids higher inflation-related costs later.

Committee members asked questions about debris disposition (McMurray said much of the material is ground for mulch or spread), the pace of repairs in affected districts, and how GDOT coordinates with counties and FEMA for eligibility and reimbursement.

McMurray closed by praising field crews and saying GDOT will continue post-operation reviews to improve staff welfare and operations after prolonged deployments. He invited additional questions from committee members.