The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) will be fully closing a portion of Georgia 247 in south Macon-Bibb County later today. An announcement will be made through local media and social media when the closure is in effect. State roadways directly connected to the affected highway will also be closed to through traffic, which will largely affect commercial vehicles. 

The affected portion of Georgia 247 is the site of ongoing construction, the 'Eight Bridges' Replacement Project, which extends from the Pio Nono/Broadway/Houston Avenue junction to the Houston Road/Hawkinsville Road split. The full closure, which will affect traffic in both directions, is necessary to allow crews the space they need to make modifications to work recently completed at the site. Barriers and signage will be placed at the boundaries of the project and no traffic will be allowed access.

A detour is being installed today that will require pass-through traffic - including commercial vehicles and trucks - to utilize Sardis Church Road, Interstate 75 and Eisenhower Parkway/Georgia 22. Signage will be posted throughout the detour route.

The state highways connected to Georgia 247 that will be closed to through traffic only include Broadway/Georgia 11, Pio Nono Avenue/US 41/Georgia 247, Industrial Highway/US 41/Georgia 49, and Hawkinsville Road/US 129/Georgia 247. Barriers and signage will be placed in advance of these closures, but local residents will be able to access the areas.

Drivers should be alert to the new traffic situation and drive safely through the detour route. They should allow themselves extra time to reach their destinations, or find alternate routes. 

Engineers anticipate the full closure to be in effect through December, 2021. Georgia DOT will make regular announcements through local media and social media to update Macon-Bibb County and Houston County residents. Georgia DOT - West's social media can be followed at @GDOTWest on Facebook and @GDOTWest on Twitter.