Gwinnett motorists on U.S. 78 now have a concrete example of the road's future. Literally.

Workers poured the first concrete median on U.S. 78 Wednesday night. The initial center divider is in the first stage of the extensive, $31 million U.S. 78 road project — the stage in which construction extends from East Park Place Boulevard to Stone Drive.

Work to build the forms for the median began Sunday, said Mark McKinnon, spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Transportation. Following median construction, workers will apply the final layer of asphalt to the first stage of the project and perform traffic signal work.

The first stage is expected to be completed this month, McKinnon said. Work will then begin on the second stage, which extends from Stone Drive east to Killian Hill Road. The third stage of the project runs from Killian Road to Highpoint Road, with the final stage running from Highpoint Road to Ga. 124/Scenic Highway.

The improvement project will remove the reversible lane system, make the road three lanes on each side and provide a raised median, sidewalks and landscaping.

The project is scheduled to be completed Nov. 30, 2009, although some landscaping work may extend until May of 2011. McKinnon said work is currently on schedule.

Most construction work is being done between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. to minimize problems for commuters. (For an interactive map, see www.78smh.com)