GDOT: Hwy. 17 Project Moving Along

The Georgia Department of Transportation says that work should move forward and congestion should ease in the area around Wal-Mart this week as part of the widening of Georgia Highway 17.

Georgia DOT Spokesperson Katie Strickland said that by Wednesday in the area of Wal-Mart and the Toccoa By-pass, the contractor plans to complete paving on turning lanes, finish the concrete median, and complete paving on the travel ways.

Strickland said that although crews will be working in the same area, it should not present the congestion problem that it has recently as work has taken place in that area.

When asked about a completion date for the entire project, Strickland says that weather permitting, traffic should be in its final location by the end of August.

The project completion date has already been pushed back because of weather issues over the course of construction started in the Fall of 2013.

When it is complete, Georgia Highway 17 will be a four-lane highway all the way between Memorial Drive in Toccoa and the Franklin County-Stephens County line.