CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. () – Georgia’s coastal region is set to embark on its most significant interstate expansion project in years, with construction on I-16 anticipated to commence by 2027, ahead of schedule. This ambitious venture, involving an investment exceeding half a billion dollars, aims to revamp a 32-mile section of I-16 to support the rapid development around Savannah.

The state has charted a comprehensive expansion plan that will extend through Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, and Effingham counties. After years of preparation, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is poised to unveil new insights into the project, which they assert is advancing at an unprecedented pace.

With a budget of $522 million, the initiative will introduce an additional lane in each direction along 32.5 miles, stretching from I-95 in Chatham County to State Route 67 (SR-67) near Denmark. The plan also encompasses the enhancement of 20 bridges throughout the route.

The driving force behind this development is the expected surge in population. Currently, up to 50,000 vehicles traverse this segment of I-16 daily, and forecasts suggest this number could nearly double without intervention, particularly due to expansions related to the Hyundai Plant and the Georgia Ports. Officials confirm the project is well underway, buoyed by $30 million in initial funding and a “design-build” strategy that accelerates progress beyond typical timelines for such large-scale endeavors.

“Additional state funding directed at major transportation corridors has significantly benefited the I-16 project. This underscores the urgency and acceleration efforts at both the state and regional levels,” commented Kyle Collins, GDOT’s Communications Program Manager. “It’s remarkable that we’re already engaging contractors by June 2026,” he added.

In public feedback from a meeting during June 2025, some residents expressed wanting more lanes or truck routes. GDOT says one lane each way will meet future demand. The widening of I-16 will support hurricane evacuations and handle rapid growth.

GDOT says construction on the highway could start by 2027 – depending on environmental approval and funding. GDOT says without it, traffic volumes here could nearly double in the next two decades. 

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