SR 17 Widening Project About To Finish, Says GDOT

Work is finishing up on the new, four-lane State Route 17 in Stephens County.

Georgia Department of Transportation Spokesperson Katie Strickland said that today, traffic is expected to shift on either side of the median northbound between Hayes Wilbanks Road and Scott Road.

Strickland said that crews will then wrap up what work remains on the road over the next several days.

“East Main Street, or I guess what they are calling the old State Route 17, the tie-in there, is going to remain closed for some additional drive way work that needs to be completed and then we are going to work on some final paving on this weekend and all lanes will be open to traffic, weather permitting of course, next Tuesday, September 27,” said Strickland.

That means as of Tuesday, State Route 17 should be open to four lanes of traffic, two in either direction, all the way from Memorial Drive in Toccoa to the Franklin-Stephens County line.

Work on the widening of Georgia Highway 17 from the Franklin-Stephens County line to Memorial Drive in Toccoa started in 2013 and planning started years before that.

All told, the Georgia DOT said close to $80 million was invested to make State Route 17 a four-lane road through Stephens County.

Those costs include not just construction, but also right of way acquisition and engineering costs.