Crews working on the 16@95 Improvement Projects have shifted I-95 northbound traffic to its final configuration, with connecting lanes opened for use as of July 25, 2025. Lighting installation throughout the I-16/I-95 Interchange is ongoing and will be fully operational toward the end of the project. The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) anticipates substantial completion—when all bridges and roadways are open in their final configuration—by late third quarter of 2025. Final acceptance is expected later in the year, after remaining tasks such as grassing and striping are completed.
Georgia DOT plans to open newly constructed sections as they are finished. The improvements come as the region enters hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30. Forecasts indicate an above-normal level of activity this year. Project officials state that “in the event an evacuation becomes necessary, the 16@95 Improvement Projects are ready to support emergency operations. Enhanced infrastructure and ongoing coordination with emergency management partners help ensure safer, more efficient travel during critical times.”
If a mandatory evacuation from Coastal Georgia is ordered, all eastbound lanes of I-16 will be converted to contraflow—westbound only—from Savannah to U.S. 441 in Dublin, covering about 125 miles. Contraflow operations will remain until the governor issues an official order for residents to return.
Prior to these projects, two single-lane crossovers existed between I-516 and the I-16/I-95 Interchange; these have been replaced by a single two-lane emergency-median crossover located just west of the I-95 exit. This change allows drivers to exit onto I-95 before reaching the crossover.
According to project officials: “Relocating the emergency-median crossover within the I-16/I-95 Interchange provides a key advantage for emergency responders. Emergency vehicles entering Savannah via I-95 now have quicker access to the region as they can continue to use I-16 eastbound even during contraflow operations.”
The improvement team offers presentations for community groups and organizations upon request through their website at https://majormobilityga.com/projects/i1695improvements/. Savannah Mobility Contractors (SMC), responsible for aspects of construction, continues efforts to involve Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) in project opportunities.
For further information or concerns regarding these projects, contact details for both Georgia DOT and SMC are available on their respective websites.
