Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE -- Traffic will be halted between Grayson and Loganville, as crews blast rock to widen a major thoroughfare between the two towns.

The blasting is part of the $10.9 million widening of 2.7 miles of Ga. Highway 20 between Cooper/Ozora Road and Brand Road.

Weather permitting, motorists will be stopped at least a quarter-mile from the blast zone -- which is 500 feet west of Hoke O'Kelly Road -- for about five minutes at 1 p.m. Thursday and Friday, a press release said.

"As soon as engineers ensure all the charges were fired and the area is inspected, traffic flow will resume," said Randall Davis, district construction engineer for the Georgia Department of Transportation. "People in the area probably won't even hear the blast occur. The blast area is covered with layers and layers of dirt and blast mats to contain the material loosened in the blast. The blast is rather anti-climactic, just a big 'poof' sound."

A seismic engineer will be on the scene, the release said.

The widening project, being constructed by Gary's Grading and Pipeline, is 28 percent complete, DOT officials said.