A former DOT Chief and a man who left a huge mark on Gwinnett and Georgia has died. Wayne Shackelford passed away today at the age of 75.
Steeped in Gwinnett County politics and friends with heavyweights like developer Wayne Mason, Shackelford as a businessman developed real estate projects including Gwinnett Place Mall. In his government posts he helped lay the water and road infrastructure that allowed Gwinnett to transform into a booming suburb.
Backed by then-Gov. Zell Miller, he rose to statewide prominence as DOT commissioner, a post he held from 1991 to 2000.
“It would be hard to measure the impact Wayne Shackelford’s had on the state of Georgia,” said Brian Allen, transportation director of Gwinnett County, who said he counted Shackelford as a “personal mentor.”
“Certainly we knew him in Gwinnett County, but he’s always had the big picture in view,” Allen said. “We owe a debt of gratitude to him that we’ll never be able to repay.”
While Shackelford led the state DOT, Georgia added 1.5 million residents. Shackelford presided over historic projects to help those people move around, such as the opening of Ga. 400’s leg inside the Perimeter, and the HOV lanes that bore traffic for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. During his tenure the DOT’s three-year list of approved projects ballooned from $2.6 billion to $5.1 billion, according to DOT.
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“During his tenure the DOT’s three-year list of approved projects ballooned from $2.6 billion to $5.1 billion, according to DOT.”
When did the fraud and accounting irregularities start?
“In his government posts he helped lay the water and road infrastructure that allowed Gwinnett to transform into a booming suburb.”
How’s that working out for ya?
I don’t know. That’s why I live in Cobb.
I had oppurtunity to see Mr. Shackleford speak at meetings, attend visits to the DOT to procur money for roads and a few other occasions and he was a trip. A hard hitter who kept up with a lot of stuff right off the top of his head. Long speeches he would give without so much as note anywhere, much less a teleprompter. He has been accused of being “pavement” happy. Maybe he was.
Be glad of all the roadwork that was completed under his watch, as cost were cheaper, economic times were better, and massive projects were completed and have been up and running for years. Also many smaller projects as well were developed and completed in the same period.
It is when times get into a stall such as now when the importance of what was done really shows up. With money much tighter, the cost having soared on top of that, you relish being able to get anything much done again, or going back to the so called good ole days.
All in all, a hat tip to Mr. Shackleford, with his help and leadership, a lot of people today ride a less bumpy, more straighter road to get where they are going, whether it be for work or play………..
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