The Georgia Department of Transportation’s project to widen SR 44 has begun, but no lane closures or traffic delays are expected because of the project in the foreseeable future.
The first phase of the project was awarded to Pittman Construction Company over the summer. It will involve widening approximately 2.5 miles from Town Creek Blvd. in Greensboro to about 1 mile south of King Drive.
“There won’t be much to see over the next several months,” according to GDOT spokesman Will Volk.
“The contractor is focusing on clearing and grubbing, which is not expected to be complete before the end of the year. They’re also taking care of erosion control items before they start grading and moving dirt in 2026.”
Grubbing and clearing are necessary preparations for road construction. Vegetation such as trees and brush is removed, as well as underground items, including stumps, roots, and buried logs.
This process ensures that no organic matter remains in the soil to damage subsequent construction efforts.
Completion of Phase 1 is currently estimated for Fall 2028.
According to GDOT, Phase 2 will continue the project at the southern end of Phase 1 down to Carey Station Road, approximately 3.75 miles of SR 44.
Volk said there is no estimated completion date at this time, but the bid process will begin Feb. 15, 2026, suggesting the project would likely be awarded next spring.
Phase 3 will continue the project from Carey Station Road to Harmony Road, approximately 5.25 miles.
Like Phase 2, there is no estimated completion date. GDOT will begin accepting bids in December 2026, which means the project would likely be awarded in the early months of 2027.
According to the GDOT website, the entire SR44 widening project will be approximately 10.5 miles in length.
“The project will consist of widening SR 44 from the existing two-lane road to a four-lane road with a combination of rural and urban sections. Urban sections would include four-foot bike lanes, five-foot sidewalks, and 16-foot raised medians. Rural sections would consist of 6-foot-wide paved shoulders and either a 32-foot-deep depressed median or a 24-foot-high raised median.
“The proposed improvements would be constructed adjacent to the existing roadway, and off-site detours would not be required during construction.
The existing right-of-way (ROW) within the corridor varies from 100 to 300 feet. It is anticipated that the proposed typical ROW would range from 140 to 300 feet. The planning for the SR 44 project corridor has evolved over the past 20 years and will continue throughout the project life cycle.”
GDOT said it hopes to achieve an acceptable level of service that will meet future traffic volume needs through the widening project.