Highway 44 Widening at Lake Oconee: Phases, New Bridge and Timeline
Highway 44 Widening at Lake Oconee
Two lanes become four, and the lake gets a new bridge.
Phases, roundabouts, the new bridge and when each stretch should be done.
Georgia DOT is widening Highway 44, Lake Oconee Parkway, from two lanes to four for 11.05 miles. Hwy 44 is the main road between Eatonton and Greensboro, and the widening runs from Harmony Road and Old Phoenix Road in Putnam County to the East Greensboro Bypass just north of I-20. The $243.77 million project is split into three phases. Phases 1 and 2, from I-20 south to Carey Station Road, are under construction now. Phase 3, through the commercial district and across the lake, goes to bid in May 2027 and includes a brand-new bridge over Lake Oconee. GDOT expects Phase 1 to finish in November 2028 and Phase 2 in August 2030, and plans Phase 3 as a five-year job, so the full Highway 44 widening is unlikely to be done before the early 2030s.
Latest update: November 2026
- GDOT District 2 Engineer Corbett Reynolds briefed residents at Del Webb at Lake Oconee in October 2026. The Highway 44 bridge over Lake Oconee will be replaced with a completely new bridge rather than widened, because of the old bridge’s age.
- A majority of the parcels needed for right of way have been acquired.
- Paving on Phase 1, around I-20, is expected to start in spring 2027.
By the numbers
The Highway 44 widening at a glance
In this guide
Highway 44 Widening Phases and Timeline
GDOT split the SR 44 widening into three phases in early 2023 because of rising construction costs, with each phase going to construction in a later fiscal year. The phases run from north to south, so the work reaches the lake last.
Highway 44 widening
Three phases, 11.05 miles
| Phase | Stretch of Highway 44 | Status | Expected finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | South of King Drive, about a mile below I-20, north to the East Greensboro Bypass. Includes the bridge over I-20 | Under construction. Paving expected to start spring 2027 | November 2028 |
| Phase 2 | Carey Station Road north to south of King Drive, past the Richland Connector and Harbor Club | Under construction since June 2026 | August 2030 |
| Phase 3 | Harmony Road and Old Phoenix Road in Putnam County north across the lake to Carey Station Road | Final design. Bids set for May 2027 | About five years after work starts, which will be no earlier than August 2027 |
GDOT SR 44 project site (PI 0019696, 0019697 and 0006253) and GDOT’s October 2026 update
Pittman Construction was awarded the Phase 2 contract at $32.29 million. Phase 3 covers the whole commercial district on both sides of the bridge, from Carey Station Road in Greene County to Harmony Crossing in Putnam County, and nothing has started there yet.
Timeline
When each stretch should be finished
Phase 1 Around I-20
Under construction · Finish Nov 2028
Phase 2 Carey Station Road to I-20
Under construction · Finish Aug 2030
Phase 3 Across the lake
Bids May 2027 · Starts Aug 2027 or later, about 5 years
Today, November 2026
The New Highway 44 Bridge Over Lake Oconee
The Highway 44 bridge over Lake Oconee, the main bridge between Greene and Putnam counties, is being replaced. GDOT first planned to widen the existing bridge by building new lanes on its north side and attaching them to it, but GDOT District 2 Engineer Corbett Reynolds told residents in October 2026 that the bridge’s age, dating to the lake’s creation in 1979, makes a completely new bridge more practical. The new four-lane bridge is part of Phase 3, so its construction won’t start before August 2027.
The Lake Oconee bridge
Why GDOT changed the plan
Original plan
Widen the existing bridge
Build new lanes on the north side and attach them to the bridge GDOT built when the lake filled in 1979.
Current plan
Build a completely new bridge
GDOT builds the north side of the new bridge first and moves traffic onto it, takes down the old bridge, then finishes the new four-lane bridge across the old one's spot. The causeways are widened, and boat traffic stops only while beams are set and the old bridge comes down.
GDOT will build the new bridge on the north side first and move traffic onto it, then take down the old bridge, so the crossing between Eatonton and Greensboro stays open. The causeways leading up to the bridge will be widened too. Boat traffic under the bridge will stop while the new beams are set and while the old bridge comes down, then reopen.
The project also upgrades the Highway 44 bridges at Richland Creek, Little Creek and I-20.
Highway 44 Roundabouts: Where They’ll Be
GDOT added six roundabouts to the plans a couple of years ago, and its layouts still mark the designs as drafts, so the final footprint at each intersection isn’t settled.
| Intersection | County | Phase |
|---|---|---|
| Richland Connector | Greene | Phase 2 |
| Carey Station Road | Greene | Phase 2 |
| Linger Longer Road | Greene | Phase 3 |
| Merchant Street | Greene | Phase 3 |
| Scott Road | Putnam | Phase 3 |
| Harmony Plaza, the entrance to Harmony Crossing and the new Publix | Putnam | Phase 3 |
GDOT SR 44 project layouts
What the Widened Highway 44 Will Look Like
The new SR 44 will have four lanes throughout, with two kinds of sections depending on how built-up the stretch is. The urban sections get 5-foot sidewalks and 4-foot bike lanes on both sides of the road.
The new road
Two lanes become four
- All-new pavement Where the widened road follows today’s route, the old Highway 44 roadbed will be dug up completely and a new road built in its place.
- Right of way Today’s right of way runs from about 100 to 300 feet wide. The new road needs about 140 to 300 feet, and trees were cleared for a wider right of way where the road will leave the existing route.
- Utility poles New, taller poles are going up along the corridor. The old poles come down once every wire has been moved over.
- Finishes GDOT’s plans show stamped red concrete in the Phase 1 median, landscaping in Phase 2 worked out with the county, and grass strips beside the sidewalks in Phases 1 and 3.
With a raised median, left turns in and out of driveways and side streets happen at median openings and roundabouts instead of anywhere along the road. Cutting down turning conflicts at intersections is one of GDOT’s stated goals for the project.
The tightest fit on the corridor is at The Silver Moon, which sits close to the road. GDOT’s current plan takes part of the restaurant’s parking lot and waiting area, moves the sidewalk 2 feet closer to the curb there, and builds a wall between the sidewalk and the property.
Hwy 44 Traffic and Lane Closures During Construction
GDOT is building the new lanes beside the existing road, so Highway 44 stays open and no off-site detours are planned. Single-lane closures during the day, for work like storm drain installation, are the norm. GDOT posts upcoming lane closures, with dates and times, on its SR 44 project site, and Georgia 511 has live conditions at 511ga.org.
What the Highway 44 Widening Means for Lake Oconee Homes
Most Lake Oconee neighborhoods sit well off Highway 44, and for them the widening mainly means a better drive to I-20, Publix and Greensboro once it’s done. The homes that see the most change are the ones that front the road or sit right beside the bridge. I go through what the plans show for each of those on its neighborhood page:
- The Vintage Club sits right at the bridge, and the entrance on Lake Oconee Parkway during and after construction hasn’t been settled publicly.
- Pinnacle Pointe fronts the parkway on the Putnam shore just south of the bridge.
- Salem Plantation has the bridge in the northern view from part of the neighborhood, so the new bridge will be what those homes look at.
- Harbor Club is reached by the Phase 2 stretch, about four miles below I-20.
The homes closest to shopping and dining on Highway 44 are in the Phase 3 stretch, which has the longest wait and the most change still ahead of it.
Why Highway 44 Is Being Widened
Highway 44 is the main road between Eatonton and Greensboro and the lake’s main route to I-20. In 2018 it carried 11,000 to 15,900 vehicles a day on two lanes, a level of service Georgia’s statewide transportation plan considers unacceptable. GDOT counted 389 crashes on the corridor from 2018 to 2020, a crash rate roughly 60 to 80 percent above the statewide average for that kind of road, and it says 86 percent of crashes from 2018 to 2023 happened at intersections. Without the widening, GDOT expects traffic to outgrow the two-lane road, with more delays and more crashes.
GDOT has been planning the corridor for about 20 years. The current design was presented at a public open house in Eatonton on May 7, 2024. In 1972, before Lake Oconee filled, Highway 44 crossed the Oconee River itself.
Highway 44 Widening Update Log
- October 2026: At a community meeting at Del Webb at Lake Oconee, GDOT confirms a new Highway 44 bridge over Lake Oconee instead of widening the old one, reports a majority of right-of-way parcels acquired and a $243.77 million total cost, and sets Phase 3 bids for May 2027 with construction no earlier than August 2027.
- Fall 2026: Phase 1 work begins on the Highway 44 bridge over I-20.
- June 2026: Phase 2 construction begins with clearing from I-20 south to Carey Station Road.
- May 2025: Phase 1 goes out to bid.
- May 2024: GDOT holds a public open house on the updated design, including six roundabouts.
- Early 2023: GDOT splits the widening into three phases.
Sources
- Georgia Department of Transportation, State Route 44 Widening project site, PI 0019696, 0019697 and 0006253, with project layouts and lane closures
- GDOT District 2 Engineer Corbett Reynolds, community meeting at Del Webb at Lake Oconee, October 2026 (video)
- Georgia Department of Transportation, SR 44 Public Information Open House handout, April 2024
- Georgia Department of Transportation, SR 44 information boards, April 2024
Frequently Asked Questions About the Highway 44 Widening
When will the Highway 44 widening be finished?
Not before the early 2030s for the whole road. GDOT expects Phase 1, around I-20, to finish in November 2028 and Phase 2, down to Carey Station Road, in August 2030. Phase 3, across the lake, won’t start before August 2027 and is planned as a five-year job.
Is GDOT replacing the Highway 44 bridge over Lake Oconee?
Yes. GDOT now plans a completely new four-lane bridge instead of widening the existing one, and traffic will shift onto it in stages. It’s part of Phase 3, so work on it won’t begin before August 2027.
Will boats be able to get under the Highway 44 bridge during construction?
Yes, with short interruptions. GDOT will stop boat traffic under the bridge while the new beams are being set and while the old bridge is being demolished, then reopen it.
How much will the Highway 44 widening cost?
GDOT forecasts $243.77 million for the full 11.05-mile project. The Phase 2 contract alone went to Pittman Construction for $32.29 million.
Will Highway 44 close during construction?
No. The new lanes are being built alongside the existing road, and GDOT plans no off-site detours. Expect single-lane closures during the day, which GDOT posts in advance on its SR 44 project site. Most stops are short flagging stops that GDOT aims to keep to about 10 minutes. Taking down the old lake bridge may mean stops of 30 minutes to an hour, which GDOT will announce ahead of time.
How many roundabouts will Highway 44 have?
Six are in GDOT’s plans, at the Richland Connector, Carey Station Road, Linger Longer Road, Merchant Street, Scott Road and Harmony Plaza.
Will Lake Oconee Parkway have sidewalks and bike lanes?
Yes, in the urban sections, which get 5-foot sidewalks and 4-foot bike lanes on both sides. Rural sections get 6-foot paved shoulders.
Will the power lines on Hwy 44 be buried?
No. GDOT can’t require utilities to go underground, so lines that are overhead today will stay overhead after the widening, and the large transmission lines can’t be buried at all. Lines that are already underground stay underground.
Will there be street lights on Highway 44 after the widening?
Only at the roundabouts. All six will be lit, along with their approaches, but GDOT isn’t adding street lighting elsewhere on the corridor.
Can you pull a boat trailer through the Highway 44 roundabouts?
Yes. All six are dual-lane, and the brick band around each center island is a truck apron, built for long trucks and trailers to ride over as they make the turn.
Who is building the Highway 44 widening?
Pittman Construction holds the contracts for Phase 1 and Phase 2. Phase 3, across the lake and through the commercial district, goes to bid in May 2027, so its contractor hasn’t been chosen yet.
Who do I contact about a problem in the Highway 44 work zone?
The project field offices are the quickest route for things like a damaged sign, a barrel that isn’t reflecting or a new pothole. GDOT also takes requests through its website, and its GDOT East Facebook page posts project updates, though comments there aren’t an official complaint channel.
How will the Carey Station roundabout affect Lake Oconee Academy traffic?
School traffic already backs up from Carey Station Road onto Highway 44 at drop-off and pickup. GDOT has met with the school and asked it to rework how cars move through campus, so the line doesn’t back into the new roundabout.
Buying or Selling a Home Along Highway 44?
Every house and neighborhood along Hwy 44 sees the widening a little differently. And for the next several years, well into the 2030s, that difference matters whether you are buying or selling. Send me the address of any home near Lake Oconee Parkway and I’ll go through GDOT’s plans for that stretch and tell you what changes in front of it.
Phase limits, designs, costs and dates come from the Georgia Department of Transportation, its SR 44 project site and GDOT District 2’s October 2026 community update. GDOT has moved this project’s dates before, and the roundabout and bridge designs are still drafts, so the SR 44 project site has the latest. Last updated November 2026.
