ASTRA Takes Stage on Athens to Savannah Ride
Support builds for the Athens to Savannah Ride through a partnership with ASTRA Group to sponsor Day 2 of this 3-day, 285-mile bicycle ride.
The Athens to Savannah Ride announces support from Astra Group, a heavy civil general contractor, specializing in the construction of public spaces, transportation and wet utility infrastructure. Astra is the 2021 Day 2 Stage Sponsor for the Athens to Savannah Ride. Day 2 traverses 102 miles from Sandersville to Statesboro on bicycle, through Tennille, Wrightsville, Bartow & Twin City.
Director of the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail and Ride Organizer for the Athens to Savannah Ride, Mary Charles Howard explains the partnership with Astra, “The Georgia Hi-Lo Trail is excited to welcome Astra as a Stage Sponsor of the 2021 Athens to Savannah Ride. Astra approached us (The Georgia Hi-Lo Trail) in spring 2021 and asked how they could support our progress. After discussing our timeline, and how our annual Athens to Savannah Bike Ride raises funds annually to build the Trail, Astra agreed to be a supporter.”
The addition of this sponsor is vital to the success of this year’s ride and future rides. The more funds and awareness raised the quicker the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail can move progress towards its end goal.
The alignment of values between Georgia Hi-Lo Trail and Astra was clear from the start, as both the Hi-Lo and Astra aim to build quality of life for the communities we serve. The partnership is a fitting one.
Astra’s Vice President, Allen Eison, shared his thoughts on the relationship.“When we first read about the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail, Astra was immediately interested in learning more about the history of how the idea of this trail came to fruition and how we could partner with the Hi-Lo Leadership Team. During our discussions, we realized the value of the project and its potential impact on the region. We are long supporters of helping communities build infrastructure that supports neighborhood and regional connectivity, active living, and preserving and providing intentional space for people to be engaged in their communities.
From the Atlanta BeltLine (Atlanta), the Ivy Creek Greenway (Suwanee), and the Bob Callan Trunk Trail (Marietta) to the North Oconee River Greenway (Athens-Clarke County) connecting to our Trail Creek Crossing project, which is part of the Firefly Trail serving as the northernmost connection of the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail, Astra's history of building trails remains among the best in the business. We also built part of the Truman Trail for Chatham County and are actively working on Emerald Trail's Model Mile in Jacksonville, FL. In addition, our longstanding partnership with the PATH Foundation, as well as the many other entities listed above with whom we've had the pleasure of working, are a testament to how collaborative and dedicated we are to parks and greenspace development and preservation, whether linear, active or passive.
The rigorous
Athens to Savannah Ride is a real example of how you can start with a grassroots vision and see just how necessary this trail is and how useful it can be in connecting rural areas of the state through miles of concrete. It's about making and sustaining connections, and Astra is thrilled at the opportunity to support the Georgia Hi-Lo trail.”
About the Athens to Savannah Ride
The mission of the Athens to Savannah Ride is to channel the enthusiasm and tradition of this event to promote awareness, support and funding for the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail, as well as the Trail’s mission to drive economic development through connectivity and empowerment of Georgia’s rural communities. For more information visit
AthenstoSavannah.com.
About the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail
The Georgia Hi-Lo Trail is dedicated to building a 211-mile paved trail that will serve to drive economic development through the connectivity and empowerment of rural Georgia. Upon completion of the 211-mile Georgia Hi-Lo Trail from Union Point to Savannah, the Hi-Lo Trail will connect to the 39-mile Firefly Trail from Union Point to Athens and together form the longest paved trail in America, connecting small Georgia towns, from Athens to Savannah through the paved, road separated path and creating opportunities for growth and economic development. For more information visit
GeorgiaHiLo.com.
For media inquiries or more information about participation or sponsorship, contact Mary Charles Howard at 706-338-8054 or
hello@GeorgiaHiLo.com.
Buckeye Road Bridge Replacement Work Begins Monday
The Buckeye Road bridge over Buckeye Creek one mile south of the Johnson County line was built in 1958 and currently posted for load restrictions. Gregory Bridge will soon begin a $1.772 million replacement contract for 0.123 miles of new approaches and a modern bridge to be completed by March 31, 2022.
Weather permitting, crews will mobilize for clearing activities today in preparation for major construction and a required 120-day duration road closure. The detour startup date is to be determined.
Once in place, the local detour for this project uses New Buckeye Road, Robert Plummer Road, Watermelon Road and State Route 57.
GDOT helps local governments reduce the number of posted and closed bridges throughout the state using different replacement programs. Each bridge has structural issues and will be brought up to modern design standards. These projects typically require a 90 to 120-day detour once under construction.
Boys & Girls Club Announces Name Change to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta
Boys & Girls Clubs of the CSRA, the Augusta area’s premier youth development organization, announces a name change to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta. The name change reflects the non-profit’s unique history of service to the Augusta area while providing room for growth and encompassing the surrounding counties the organization currently serves.
“Our name change will more clearly communicate who we are and where we serve,” says Boys & Girls Clubs CEO, Kim Evans. “So often, when we work with people who live outside of this area, we find that they are confused about where our Clubs are located. We frequently hear questions that present the need to clarify, such as, ‘What does CSRA stand for?’ followed by ‘Are you in Savannah?’. Our city’s name is recognized and respected globally and the name change allows us to use that recognition to broaden our impact.”
