First Street parking lot closing as Bibb jail expansion continues

A replacement lot is open on Hazel Street, while people visiting administrative offices should use the Oglethorpe Street lot.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Parking and traffic access around the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center will change beginning Saturday as work continues on the county jail expansion.

The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office says the west parking lot on First Street will close Saturday, July 18, and will no longer be accessible during construction.

A replacement parking lot is now open at the former site of the James F. Higgins Memorial Building on Hazel Street behind the jail.

People visiting administrative offices at the Law Enforcement Center should use the public parking lot on Oglethorpe Street in front of the building.

Hawthorne Street will close to public through traffic and will be blocked at First Street Lane. The street will become a single-lane, one-way route reserved for accessible parking.

Accessible parking spaces have moved from the former west lot to Hawthorne Street behind the jail. Drivers can enter from Second Street at Hawthorne Street and exit at First Street Lane, which connects to Hazel Street.

The changes follow the completion of the first phase of the jail expansion.

In April, the Macon-Bibb County Commission approved $1,244,030 for the first phase, which included demolishing the Higgins building and replacing it with the new parking lot. The money came from voter-approved Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds from 2018 and 2025.

Later phases are expected to include upgrades to the existing jail and new maximum-security housing pods.

The full expansion is expected to add up to 150 beds, including 96 maximum-security beds and 24 beds for inmates experiencing mental health challenges. The entire project is estimated to cost between $28.5 million and $31 million.