GDOT Closing Part of Anderson Thomas Road

Part of an area road in the southern half of Stephens County will close today for a time in connection to the Highway 17 construction project.

Georgia Department of Transportation Spokesperson Teri Pope said that Anderson Thomas Road, at its intersection with Georgia Highway 17, will close beginning today.

“The detour will actually close about 1000 feet of Anderson Thomas Road as it meets with State Route 17,” said Pope. “We have to change the grade of Anderson Thomas to meet the new grade of the widened State Route 17, so the whole road will not be closed, just as it approaches State Route 17.”

Pope said that with a part of Anderson Thomas Road closed, there will be a detour for motorists.

“From Anderson Thomas Road to Martin Drive to Hurricane Grove to Webb Road and back to Anderson Thomas,” said Pope.

She said that if weather permits and all goes well, all of Anderson Thomas Road should be back open to traffic by June 19.

This is all part of the project to create a new, four-lane Highway 17 from the Stephens-Franklin County line to around Memorial Drive in Toccoa.

Pope said that as part of this project, work like what is taking place at Anderson Thomas Road will take place in many other locations.

“Basically, all of the roads that intersect with the new road, the road will have to be changed because we are changing of 17 itself, so it is happening down the road as we go and if it has not affected your road yet, do not worry, it will,” said Pope.

The new, four-lane Georgia Highway 17 is expected to be ready to go by the end of May 2016.