BRYAN COUNTY, Ga. () – The roads surrounding the Hyundai Metaplant at rush hour are highly congested, and commuters said they are frustrated.

The buildup happens along Highway 280 and Genesis Road, just off exit 143 on 1-16. Locals said the traffic started when the plant opened at the end of last year.

“It’s very hectic,” commuter Kierra Middleton said. “I see an accident almost every two days. It’s bad.”

Commuters said the traffic peaks when people are coming and going for their shifts, and the plant isn’t even close to being fully staffed, according to Hyundai.

When asked which hours were the worst, commuter Mark Herring, said, “From three until seven and five until seven in the morning.”

The wait is another problem for commuters.

“It’s only been one way. Now they’ve got two ways, and it’s still like 30 minutes to an hour wait,” Middleton said of 280.

The level of congestion has left Bryan County locals wondering when they’ll see more significant changes.
“They should’ve made plans for this before they built the plant. They know that, but it is what it is,” commuter Edward Harvath said.

According to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), there are plans in place to alleviate traffic. They’re just not complete.

“It’ll get better, but, right now, it’s kind of aggravating,” commuter Ken Buckner said.

GDOT has implemented a three-part project to improve the flow of traffic surrounding the Metaplant, but only one of the parts has reached substantial completion.

“It’s just all of these different traffic circles and trying to make sure there’s not so much starting and stopping, starting and stopping, letting people go and all this merging,” commuter Andrew Beauchamp said.

The other two parts of GDOT’s plan involve widening Highway 280 and adding another interchange at Old Cuyler Road. Those initiatives are anticipated to be completed in 2025 and 2027, respectively.

However, some locals said they may not be able to wait that long.

“I’ve lived here for 30 years, and it’s getting very bad, yeah…To the point I’m considering moving,” Harvath said.

Hyundai said they are working with employees by staggering shifts so that all of them aren’t arriving and leaving at the same time.