MTO: Freeway progress

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Freeway progress

Here's an update on the progress of the Fall Line Freeway through Middle Georgia counties:

BALDWIN and WASHINGTON counties: The freeway will cross into Baldwin County and then into Washington County, where the 9.5 mile Sandersville bypass already has been finished.

BIBB COUNTY: The freeway comes up I-75 to Macon, where it turns east along U.S. 80 (Eisenhower Parkway). From there, the route waits for the conclusion of environmental studies. The DOT is looking at several factors which may impact the route the freeway takes south of downtown area, across wetlands which have historical significance to Native Americans and near the Ocmulgee National Monument.

Among the factors is the consideration being given to the Creek Indians' traditional cultural property. The process to determine the route is expected to take several years.

CRAWFORD COUNTY: The roadway and bridges for the section crossing Beechwood Swamp and the Flint River in Crawford County are complete and open to traffic.

PEACH COUNTY: Construction will soon begin from the Flint River to the Fort Valley bypass in Peach County, and the DOT has concluded environmental activities and surveys to add two lanes to the Fort Valley bypass.

From Fort Valley to Interstate 75 in Byron, the freeway is complete where it follows Ga. 49 to Byron.

TAYLOR COUNTY: From Junction City in Talbot County to Taylor County, a distance of 6.4 miles, the environmental work is complete. An engineering consulting firm is preparing construction plans and right-of-way acquisition has begun.

The Butler bypass is under construction and is expected to be finished by the end of October. Design changes resulting from a public hearing held last year in Reynolds may delay the start of right-of-way acquisition from the Butler bypass to Reynolds.

TWIGGS COUNTY: A portion of the road, just over three miles, has been completed in Twiggs County and is open to traffic. The freeway is expected to be open to just east of the Wilkinson County line by the end of this year.

WILKINSON COUNTY: The freeway will go north of Gordon, run seven-tenths of a mile south of the Baldwin County line and cross U.S. 441 in Wilkinson County not far from the U.S. 441-Milledgeville bypass.

- Rob Peecher

- Midstate counties banking on Fall Line Freeway - Map of the Fall Line Freeway route