If construction starts sometime in 2027 as predicted, the Georgia Department of Transportation’s widening of Interstate 16 to six lanes for the 32.5 miles between the “Statesboro” exit on Georgia Highway 67 and the I-95 interchange could be complete sometime in 2030, according to an “optimistic” GDOT projection.
That estimate was shared by Kyle Collins, GDOT communications manager for the “P3,” or public-private partnerships program, during an open-house event about the project held June 11 in the Bulloch County Center for Agriculture building on Langston Chapel Road. The drop-in event for public information and comment lasted two hours, 4-6 p.m.
At times in the first hour, GDOT staff members and consultants from the design firm Arcadis and project management consulting firm HNTB outnumbered local people dropping by. Also, nearly as many residents of Effingham County as Bulloch County came to ask questions and look at the long strips of aerial maps outlining the project.
As previously reported, a GDOT webpage about the “design-build” project showed a construction cost estimate of $511.8 million. Collins cites $511 million as the “authorized program amount for this corridor’s reconstruction.”
That means it is programmed by the department. Two state Transportation Board members who attended – Daniel Snipes of Statesboro and Ann Purcell of Rincon – said the specific funding is not guaranteed but subject to the Legislature and governor’s annual budget approval. However, they noted that this project enjoys wide legislative support, and State Sen. Billy Hickman, R-Statesboro, also at the open house, said he believes the GDOT will get what it requests.
“If GDOT says it’s the right thing to do, we’ll find a way to fund it, and we know from the growth here that we’ve got to fund it. …,” he said. “I’m excited about it.”
Widening plans
The plans, reportedly about 30% complete at this phase, call for the interstate highway to be widened by adding a third 12-foot travel lane in each direction. Existing lanes “will be realigned towards the median” and the additional lanes built “in the median area.” The list of planned improvements also includes replacing “existing substandard pavement,” and widening or replacing 20 bridges, meaning bridges in both directions at 10 locations.
The Georgia DOT’s previously published timeline for the project shows that the environmental study process began in 2024 and that the environmental study process should conclude – at least sufficiently for more detailed planned to begin – in May 2026. According to the timeline, GDOT officials expect to select a “project developer” in second-quarter 2026, for construction to start sometime in 2027.
So, a question at the open house was, after construction begins, how long will it take?
“Ballpark, I think it’s safe to say four years,” Collins answered, and was asked if that means sometime in 2030.
“Tentatively, that’s kind of what we’re projecting, but again, this is something that we’ll stay in touch with, as we get down the line, get the team on board, it will reveal itself more of what that realistic schedule would be. Right now, we’re going to anticipate that three to four years, but you never know what could happen with weather and different things,” Collins said.
For a design-build approach, a design team will be selected to complete the design to 100%. Then the designers and engineers will continue to work with the construction contractors to look for “efficiencies” in cost and timeline, he said.
Hyundai Metaplant traffic
A segment of I-16 that has seen a large increase in freight traffic is Hyundai Motor Group’s massive Metaplant America for electric and hybrid vehicle production, on the Mega Site, which also includes some parts suppliers and a battery manufacturing joint venture, just southeast of the U.S. Highway 280 interchange in Bryan County. Improvements along U.S. 280 from the Meta Plant’s access roads include the installation of five roundabouts, two of which connect directly to the ramps of I-16.
Another related, partially planned project would install an intersection with I-16 at the eastern end of the Hyundai plant’s frontage or service road, which currently starts at Highway 280 and extends eastward about two miles, paralleling the interstate’s eastbound lanes. Lines sketched on the maps showed this proposed intersection with on- and off-ramps on both sides of the interstate.
Two of the Effingham County residents attending the Statesboro open house event were Rincon City Councilmember Ben Blackwell and his wife Caren. Besides seeing traffic from the main plant, they have a Hyundai supplier in their neighborhood, aluminum parts maker Sewon America, which started production last year and is expected to employ 740 people.
Ben Blackwell said he was encouraged to find out about the plan for the new intersection at the eastern end of the Hyundai service road.
“When I was coming up here, I was concerned about the 280 interchange, and they’re not doing too much more that what they’re already doing now, as you can see, the roundabouts,” he said. “But that new interchange should help with their trucks and all that, and of course, maybe employees at the same time.”
The Georgia DOT will continue accepting public comments on the project now through June 26, and also has an online survey available.
All of the printed materials from the open houses are available on the project website, https://i16-widening-0020168-gdot.hub.arcgis.com.
