The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) has been recognized as a southern regional winner in the 2025 America’s Transportation Awards. The award, announced at the Southeastern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (SASHTO) annual conference in Lexington, Kentucky, was given for the department’s “I-20 Eastbound Exit Ramp Roundabout at Maynard Terrace” project. This project won in the “Operations Excellence, Small Project” category.
“The mission of the Georgia DOT is to deliver a transportation network focused on innovation, safety, sustainability, and mobility for the people and businesses of Georgia,” said Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry, P.E. “This roundabout project embodies those ideals and will provide lasting benefits for residents in the area and motorists using the ramp for years to come.”
Located near a business district, residential properties, and a school, the I-20 Eastbound Exit Ramp at Maynard Terrace had experienced frequent travel delays and crashes. The intersection lacked pedestrian facilities such as crosswalks or sidewalks. After reviewing crash data, Georgia DOT determined that building a roundabout with pedestrian accommodations would improve traffic flow and reduce severe crashes while also serving pedestrians.
Community engagement played a role in planning this project. The department held public meetings early on and worked with stakeholders throughout development. Collaboration included outreach programs with local projects like the Battle of Atlanta Greenway Trail—a two-mile multi-use trail connecting neighborhoods to schools and businesses—to help integrate pedestrian and bicycle access.
The new roundabout opened to traffic in December 2024 and was completed by April 2025. It includes multi-lane traffic flow, five-foot sidewalks, and a ten-foot shared-use path. These changes eliminated left-turn conflicts at the intersection, improved visibility for drivers, lowered vehicle speeds, and reduced crash severity. As a result, congestion has decreased significantly alongside reductions in backups and accidents. Pedestrian access has also been enhanced for those traveling to nearby businesses or Alonzo Crim High School.
According to data from similar intersections where roundabouts have replaced traditional intersections, overall accidents have dropped by more than 35 percent while injury-related accidents have declined by over 60 percent.
America’s Transportation Awards are sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). As a regional winner, Georgia DOT’s project will advance to compete among AASHTO’s “Top 12” national finalists—expected to be announced in September—with final winners revealed during AASHTO’s Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City this November. Each national competition winner will receive $10,000 for donation to charity or scholarship.
Georgia Department of Transportation oversees planning, construction, maintenance of state highways as well as bridge projects and supports public transit along with bike-pedestrian programs across Georgia.
