ROCKDALE COUNTY PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
August 6, 2024
ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. – Progress is rolling towards Rockdale, with three major Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) roadway construction projects set to begin this year. The projects are State Route 162 Salem Road Widening Project, The Courtesy Parkway Extension, and Interstate -20 at State Route 138/State Route 20 Interchange Reconstruction and Widening Project. These projects are all scheduled to begin as early as October and can span over the next three to four years.
Details about each project are listed below:
State Route (SR) 162/Salem Road Widening
This project will widen the existing two-lane roadway to a four-lane roadway (two lanes in each direction) from south of Browns Bridge Road in Newton County to Flat Shoals Road in Rockdale County. The project would also widen the existing four-lane roadway to six lanes from Flat Shoals Road to Interstate 20.
Plans also include a 16-foot raised concrete median to run along the length of the project, a 12-foot shoulder that includes a 5-foot sidewalk on the east side and a 20-foot shoulder, including a 10-foot shared use path, on the west side.
Courtesy Parkway Extension
This project will create a new connecting road between Old Covington Highway to Flat Shoals Road. The road will bridge over I-20 and relieve traffic on McDonough Highway.
The planned road will comprise three travel lanes in an undivided roadway, and the bridge over I-20 would be wide enough to accommodate five lanes in preparation for future growth. The plan includes curbs, gutters, and sidewalks, as well as intersection improvements with new turning lanes along the path and at the endpoints.
The project length totals 1.5 miles of all-new roadway.
Interstate -20 at State Route 138/State Route 20 Interchange Reconstruction and Widening Project
This project will reconfigure and widen the existing SR 138/SR 20 (Walnut Grove Road/McDonough Highway) at the I-20 diamond interchange in Rockdale County with a single point urban interchange (SPUI). A portion of the project consists of reconstructing the existing six-lane bridge (four through lanes, two left turn lanes) for SR 138/SR 20 over I-20 with a new two-span eight-lane bridge that spans both I-20 and the new westbound access ramp from Dogwood Drive. The new bridge will consist of four through lanes with exclusive dual-left turn lanes in each direction. A single-lane roundabout is to be implemented at the intersection of Dogwood Drive and the western entrance to Conyers Plaza. The goal of this project is to alleviate future traffic congestion and to reduce accidents and injuries at the SR 138/SR 20 and I-10 interchange.
Rockdale County is urging citizens to begin planning for alternative routes and adjusting their travel schedules in preparation for the upcoming road work. Further updates will be shared as more information develops. The public is asked to continue monitoring social media @RockdaleGov and the Rockdale County website, rockdalecountyga.gov, for updates.
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