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Photo courtesy of Georgia DOT.
MACON-- Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell McMurry today was joined by State Senator David Lucas, State Representative James Beverly and Macon Bibb Mayor Robert Reichert at the official ground breaking ceremony for the I-16/I-75 Interchange improvement project. The project includes significant improvements to approximately 2.5 miles of I-75 from Hardeman Avenue to Pierce Avenue and almost 3 miles of I-16 from I-75 to Walnut Creek.
“I-16 and I-75 are major freight corridors from the Port of Savannah to Metro Atlanta and Macon’s gateway; they also serve as part of the daily commute of many local residents,” McMurry said. “Improving the safety and operations of this interchange is paramount. But more importantly, we are proud of the efforts to work collaboratively with the surrounding neighborhoods in our decisions for improving the interchange, while working with community leaders to protect the rich history and cultural legacy of the Macon area.”
The entire interchange project represents an investment of nearly $500 million, which includes funding for preliminary engineering, design, right-of-way and construction costs. When completed, the project will provide operational improvements, reduce congestion, improve safety, provide better access to and from the downtown Macon area, and improve sight distances; the completed project is also designed to separate through traffic from local traffic, which is expected to substantially reduce the crash rate in the area.
The project will improve the efficiency and safety of the I- 16/I-75, I-16/Spring Street, I-16/Second Street, and I-16/Coliseum Drive interchanges and introduce a collector-distributor road system. In the end, more than 39 bridge structures will be constructed, replaced, upgraded or improved.
Due to the scope of the work required and to minimize the construction impacts on the traveling public, the project will be built in seven phases, the first of which will be completed in summer 2018. The Department has already awarded the contracts for the first four phases (1, 1B, 2 & 3) with a total investment of $268.8 million.
Improvements to the I-16/I-75 interchange will provide better access and efficiency for commercial vehicles traveling from the Port of Savannah and for local and regional deliveries due to reduced congestion and improved travel time through the interchanges. For more information about the project, visit www.dot.ga.gov/BS/Projects/SpecialProjects/I16I75.