AWP Scored a Touch Down at Super Bowl LIII
Long before the 2018 NFL playoff games were in the books, AWP Project Managers were already preparing for Super Bowl LIII. Party planning? Not exactly. AWP was honored to provide primary traffic control setup for Super Bowl LIII in and around Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
TEAM EFFORT ENSURES SUPER BOWL SUCCESS
Because AWP crews have handled many major special events, and the city of Atlanta has hosted numerous significant events, everyone understood the many special demands of this project. Establishing safe, temporary traffic management for more than 70,000 game attendees (plus vendors, security and special guests) would require a concerted effort and professional approach.
Initial planning started late in November 2018, and in December, AWP regional planners began working directly with Atlanta Super Bowl Host Committee and Raleigh-based Kimley Horn Planning and Design Consultants. Stephen Pittard, Facility Manager in Atlanta, managed the team that handled planning and process. “For about a month, equipment went out every day. During the project, we were available 24/7 for the host committee,” Pittard said. Set up began January 14, and the last item was removed on February 11.
Kimley Horn’s planners gave AWP a list of locations that needed to be closed and developed traffic control plans for the three major route closures and detours. AWP’s Atlanta team designed and planned all of the others, including creating plans for the multiple associated closures and traffic pattern changes for both vehicle traffic and pedestrian movement. Pittard noted:
Our top concern was for pedestrian safety and ADA Compliance in those accessible entrances.
Drawing on various locations throughout the region, AWP was able to quickly assemble the majority of necessary equipment, including Type 3 barricades, A-frame barricades, ADA (pedestrian) barricades, and various message boards. However, as is typical in a project like this, a variety of custom traffic signs were needed. For those, AWP called upon its Greensboro sign-making location.
“Having such a specialized resource in house enhanced the project’s overall efficiency,” Pittard said.
Also, AWP was called upon to coordinate last-minute closures and traffic control pattern for a VIP party for Super Bowl players’ families and other NFL guests. The set up of closures and traffic patterns for that party (held at Georgia World Conference Center (GWCC) was handled flawlessly, in spite of short notice.
We are honored that the Atlanta Super Bowl Host Committee selected AWP to establish and manage the numerous road closures and temporary traffic patterns necessitated by an event of such magnitude.
From Marathons to Super Bowls, AWP excels at managing traffic – both vehicular and pedestrian – for Special Sporting Events. Contact us to help you with your next event.
