West Macon business owners excited about Eisenhower Parkway project

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Eisenhower Parkway in Macon will look very different in the near future. County leaders are almost ready to start the corridor revitalization project.

People in West Macon agree Eisenhower Parkway needs a makeover. District Commissioner Al Tillman said businesses are leaving the area, but others are taking their place. He wants to do more to keep them in the area and his plans are exciting business owners. 

“It needs to happen in this area,” said Chris Watson, the Manager of JL’s Bar-B-Que.

The restaurant has called Eisenhower Parkway home for more than 20 years. 

“We used to have just a dirt road here that dead ended behind us. Now we’ve got Walmart, Chick-fil-a, a bunch of different motels,” explained Watson. 

While Watson has seen improvements, he’s also seen some neglect. 

“The roadways are always grown up. I think it gets mowed two or three times a year. Lots of trash. It always looks bad. Most of the businesses out here keep their own grass cut in front of their business,” said Watson. 

The overall look of the area is affecting its ability to keep businesses. 

“We’re in a struggle and a decline. Developers, for whatever reason, are in competition to take business from this part of town to another part of town,” said Commissioner Tillman.

Commissioner Tillman explained developers are trying to take businesses to North Macon, near Bass Road and Zebulon Road. He said it’s inconvenient for the employees of these businesses to have to drive to another part of town if the business moves. He has a plan to change that. 

“We’ve got permission from the Georgia Department of Transportation that from I-475 all the way to Central Georgia Tech we will remove blight. Tree removals, cutting the grass on the right of ways,” explained Commissioner Tillman.

Commissioner Tillman set aside $75,000 from his blight fund to pay for the improvements. Commissioner Gary Bechtel is matching it to bring the total to $150,000. 

“I’m still looking for other commissioners to chime in and offer part of their $1 million blight to continue to save this community,” said Commissioner Tillman.

Business owners are looking forward to the improvement because right now they have a very simple business strategy.

“Try to survive,” said Watson. 

Commissioner Tillman said the project will be divided into three phases and it will start early October.