Contractors working for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) will continue construction on the I-16/I-75 Interchange Improvement Project in Macon-Bibb from January 16 to January 23, 2026. Weather and site conditions may affect the schedule.
From Monday, January 19 through Friday, January 23, nightly lane closures will occur on Spring Street between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. for light installation under the bridge and overhang removal. The Second Street Bridge will also have lane closures and pacing operations during this period for deck drain installation, equipment removal, and formwork removal.
A long-term traffic shift is in place through February 2026. Southbound I-75 traffic heading to eastbound I-16 will move onto new left lanes of I-16 eastbound. This change restricts access to the Spring Street/Exit 1A ramp; drivers must detour to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard instead. Northbound I-75 traffic toward eastbound I-16 will also use new left lanes but retain full access to Spring Street/Exit 1A as usual.
Roadside signs and lane striping are being used to guide drivers through these changes. The shifts are necessary so crews can build pedestrian bridges over the Ocmulgee River.
There are ongoing long-term closures affecting Spring Street: its far right lane at the I-16 westbound on-ramp remains closed for several months, as does the right-hand on-ramp to I-16 westbound. The Spring Street on-ramp to I-16 westbound has been relocated to the far left lane.
Construction activities planned for January 19–23 include tree clearing and installing erosion control devices along both directions of I-75 (Phase 6), continuing bridge substructure work near Walnut Creek (Phases 4 and 5), pouring bridge deck spans, building retaining walls, drainage installations, sidewalk repairs with ADA-compliant ramps, street lighting installations along I-75 (Phases 2 and 3), sound wall construction, and evaluation of remaining work items near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (Phase 1).
The $620 million project aims to widen and reconstruct parts of I-16, I-75, and their interchange in seven phases extending through 2030. When finished, it will add collector-distributor lanes, more interstate lanes, upgraded ramps and bridges—11 bridges in total—new retaining walls, improved drainage systems, among other enhancements designed for safer travel by local commuters as well as regional travelers and freight moving from Georgia’s southern coast across the state.
Motorists should anticipate delays in work zones during construction periods. GDOT advises caution when driving through these areas and recommends checking real-time updates via phone at 511 or online at https://511ga.org before traveling.
According to GDOT: “The Georgia Department of Transportation plans, constructs and maintains Georgia’s state and federal highways. We’re involved in bridge, waterway, public transit, rail, general aviation, bike and pedestrian programs. And we help local governments maintain their roads. Georgia DOT and its nearly 4,000 employees are committed to delivering a transportation system focused on innovation, safety, sustainability and mobility. The Department’s vision is to boost Georgia’s competitiveness through leadership in transportation.”
