GDOT says I-16 infrastructure improvements will not have impact on hurricane evacuations
The project will span four counties (Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham and Effingham). According to GDOT, construction is slated to begin in 2027. Kyle Collins of GDOT said funding was advanced in the fiscal year 2024 state general fund budget. GDOT's website shows $30 million has been budgeted for preliminary engineering.
"Currently, these improvements would be almost all state funded...Georgia DOT will take those funds as far as possible in this corridor," said Collins.
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The highway not only serves much of the state as the most direct access to Savannah and the Georgia coast, but is also a thoroughfare that motorists use when evacuating from hurricanes.
It is also a key route for the state's freight network to the ports in Savannah and Brunswick. According to GDOT, existing traffic numbers currently range from 31,000 to 50,000 daily and is expected to rise to 52,000 to 99,000 under no build conditions.
Collins said expected growth in the region prompted staff to prioritize the project but Eric Anderson, who lives on the north end of Bryan County, feels planning of the project should have begun years ago.
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"My concerns are that when they started approving all the warehouses and the attempt for Volvo and then eventually Hyundai, that is when this should have been discussed," said Anderson. "They have approved and built too much too fast and they are now woefully unprepared and it is going to cause even more traffic issues because they waited until after the fact."
Residents such as Cindy Schnur Harrison said construction fatigue has begun to set in.
'I realize I-16 needs to be widened to three lanes but for those of us who live along or near the Highway 280/I-16 area, we are so sick and tired of the construction, excessive traffic, traffic jams and accidents,' said Harrison. 'I can't imagine how the traffic will be if and when I-16 widening begins. The traffic problems won't just be in our area but will be on-going for miles and miles to months and years. I think we all would just like a break for a while.'
Construction of the I-16 at Old Cuyler Road Interchange will begin the third quarter of this year and has a two-year timeline. However, Collins said that project should be wrapping up before widening of the I-16 corridor begins.
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'Construction should be ramping down on the new Old Cuyler Interchange in the early months of 2027 as it is beginning on a potential I-16 reconstruction section on the I-95 end of the corridor,' said Collins.
Harrison also expressed concern regarding the overpasses. Collins confirmed 20 bridges will be repaired simultaneously with the road improvements, meaning there will be traffic impacts. Collins said GDOT will mitigate traffic congestion stemming from the project with lane closure hours, among other things.
Some residents expressed concern on social media about what impact the project would have if residents needed to leave due to a storm. In years past, evacuation orders have put thousands of motorists on I-16 and at some points, bringing it to a standstill. However, Collins said widening of the corridor will not impact the state's ability to implement its evacuation plans.
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'Detailed coordination and planning ensures construction wouldn't impede the state's robust hurricane evacuation process if the need arose,' said Collins.
That process includes contraflow on I-16 east and west bound lanes from Savannah to U.S. 441 in Dublin, totaling 125 miles. GDOT will also mobilize 300-500 employees to set up specialized equipment, a number of staff members will begin working 12-hour shifts and maintenance crews will be on hand to clear debris from roads.
The online comment period will be open until June 26. Click the link here to submit questions and suggestions through the comment form.
Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Residents raise concerns over GDOT's I-16 widening project
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