I-75 construction to be finished by 2013, adds two traffic lanes

Construction seems to be everywhere in the Mercer-Macon community. For the past year, construction in North Macon on I-75 has left people wondering what the final project will look like. It began in August of 2010 and is scheduled to conclude in May of 2013. The project contracted to cost about $55 million according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
The construction that can be seen now is actually just the start of a much larger project aimed to renovate the entire I-75 to I-16 interchange. The current work aims to transform the section from the Pierce Avenue exit to the Arkwright Road exit, about three and a half miles, from four lanes to six.
As soon as this project is complete, the work on the interchange will start. The interchange project will transform the traffic artery from two bridges to seven.
There was considerable opposition to the expansion as planned, as it will require the moving or destruction of numerous historic homes in Macon, including the childhood home of musician Little Richard Penniman.
The plans that are being implemented were first shown to the public in 2007.
The I-75 and I-16 expansion is designed in part to provide better access to the historic parts of downtown and central Macon.