Honorable Mention: Special Projects Category

Chetoogeta Mtn., W & A Railroad Tunnel Restoration

Tunnel Hill, Georgia

Submitted by Edwin Brady Const. Co., Inc.

The Chetoogeta Mountain, W & A Railroad Tunnel Restoration involved the total restoration of a historic 1477 ft (450 m) long clay brick arch railroad tunnel constructed in 1850. It was an immense engineering accomplishment at the time, and played a significant role in the Civil War along with other notable events through history.

This project involved polyurethane grout being injected over the entire length of the brick arch to seal water infiltration and stabilize the arch, repointing brick arch and stone walls, shotcrete repairs to areas where the brick arch had failed, and plaster rendering over the shotcrete to match it with the surrounding brick.

Close coordination between the owner, designer, contractor, and the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources was required to ensure the success of transforming an old, fragile, unsafe structure into a fully renovated one, safe for public display and authentic in restoring and preserving its original character and appearance for generations to come.