ATLANTA (September 19, 2013) – Sen. John Wilkinson (R-Toccoa) joined with Governor Nathan Deal, the Georgia Department of Transportation and local community leaders to break ground on State Route 17 widening in Stephens County on Sept. 18, 2013. This project is a part of the Governor’s Road Improvement Program (GRIP) to boost Georgia’s economic development by connecting 95 percent of cities with 2,500 or more people to the Interstate Highway System, providing healthy arteries for goods to be moved around the state.
“As long-time friends stretching back as far as our time in the Future Farmers of America organization, it was a pleasure to host Governor Deal in Stephens County,” said Sen. Wilkinson. “Together we have long dreamt of expanding our highway system in Northeast Georgia to accommodate increase flow of goods and keep our state competitive. By growing the Freight Corridor Network to four-lanes on Highway 17, we are staying ahead of demands and bringing jobs to Northeast Georgia.”
From Stephens and Franklin county line to Scott Road, construction workers will increase State Route 17 to four-lanes for 6.28 miles, projecting to complete by May 31, 2016. The widening will continue for another 3.13 mile stretch with sidewalks from Fieldcrest Road to Memorial Drive and should be finished by April 30, 2016.
Since this expansion is part of the improvements to the Freight Corridor Network, it is exempt from Congressional Balancing as delineated in House Bill 202, signed into law this past legislative session.
For more photos of the groundbreaking ceremony, please visit the Georgia State Senate Facebook.
RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
September 19, 2013
For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Director
Kate Greer, Broadcast Specialist
Kate.Greer@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028