I-16/I-75 traffic shift begins July 25 in Macon as new eastbound lanes open
The shift was originally scheduled to begin July 18, but GDOT officials said the date was moved to allow the public more time to prepare.
UPDATE (7/16/2025): Drivers on Interstate 75 in Macon will begin using newly constructed I-16 eastbound lanes starting July 25 as part of a six-month traffic shift at the I-16/I-75 interchange, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
The shift was originally scheduled to begin July 18, but GDOT officials said the date was moved to allow the public more time to prepare.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Drivers on I-75 in Macon will begin using newly constructed I-16 eastbound lanes starting Friday night, July 18, as part of a six-month traffic shift at the I-16/I-75 interchange, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
The shift will begin around 9 p.m. Friday and continue until about 10 a.m. Saturday, weather permitting. During that window, traffic will temporarily reduce to one lane for safety.
According to a GDOT news release, the change will affect both northbound and southbound I-75 traffic heading toward I-16 east. Southbound drivers will be rerouted to the left onto the new I-16 eastbound lanes but will lose access to the Spring Street exit. Instead, they must detour to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Northbound I-75 drivers will also shift left onto the new I-16 eastbound lanes but will still be able to exit at Spring Street as usual.
This traffic pattern will remain in place for about six months while crews build new pedestrian bridges over the Ocmulgee River, a key part of the I-16/I-75 Interchange Improvement Project’s fourth phase. GDOT says Phase 4 is scheduled for completion in late 2026.
Separately, the Spring Street entrance ramp will close overnight from 9 p.m. Thursday, July 17, until 5 a.m. Friday. GDOT contractors will be working on the Spring Street overpass bridge during that closure. Drivers approaching the ramp will be detoured to reach Spring Street.
Ongoing, long-term closures also remain in place at Spring Street, where the right lane and original ramp to I-16 westbound are closed. Drivers should use the far left lane to access the new I-16 westbound on-ramp.
According to GDOT, crews are building multiple bridge structures, pouring concrete, installing drainage pipes and continuing work on lighting, guardrails and visual barriers across all phases of the project.
GDOT advises drivers to expect delays, reduce speed and use caution in all work zones. For real-time updates, call 511, visit 511ga.org, or use the Georgia 511 app.
