The Georgia Department of Transportation recently awarded five construction contracts totaling $14.3 million for the southwest district. They include county road bridge replacements and construction of a roundabout.

In Colquitt County, a single lane roundabout with lighting will be built at the intersection of State Route (SR) 37 and Thigpen Trail. Both are two lane roads, but only Thigpen Trail traffic is controlled with stop signs. Crash analysis showed 39 crashes were reported at the intersection between Jan. 1, 2013 and April 22, 2023. The majority resulted from drivers on Thigpen Trail failing to stop or yield to SR 37 traffic. Roundabouts reduce the number of points where vehicles can cross paths and collide and virtually right-angle and head-on crashes. The scheduled completion date is 2028.

Construction contracts were also awarded for replacement of three bridges located on county roads. In Irwin County, the bridge on Satilla Road over the Willacoochee River overflow will be replaced. It was built in 1968 and is posted for weight restrictions. In Turner County, the Bethel Road bridge over Hat Creek and the Legg Road bridge over Wolf Creek will be replaced. The Hat Creek bridge was built in 1958 and its load carrying capacity is lower than current standards. The Wolf Creek bridge was built in 1946, is structurally deficient and is posted. All bridges are expected to be complete in 2027.

In Ben Hill County, a contract was awarded for 2.793 miles of widening and reconstruction for realignment  on the Peachtree Road corridor from Benjamin H. Hill Drive to US 319/SR 107. This is a Transportation Investment Act (TIA) project and is expected to be complete in 2028.

Construction contracts are awarded to the lowest qualified bidder. Start dates for these contracts have not been determined yet.