An Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE) Study was completed  to review the safety of the intersection for vehicles and pedestrians. A mini-roundabout was recommended from the study and approved by a majority (54%) of the community residents at a public information meeting held on August 11, 2022. Design is on hold pending approval to move forward from the County Managers Office.  

This is a SPLOST project to improve the Skidaway Ferguson/Norwood Avenue intersection. This project includes an upgrade of the existing traffic signal, drainage and sidewalks on both sides of Skidaway Road. The Concept Plan for this project is attached below for review. 

Also attached is a copy of written comments received during the Public Information Open House (PIOH) comment period with responses. We thank everyone that attended the meeting and/or offered comments.

Final engineering design is underway. Right of way acquisition began in the fourth quarter of 2023. Construction is anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2026.

The Safe Streets for All Study is now complete!

This study examined risk factors and locations of serious traffic crashes, identified underserved communities, and assessed transportation policies to recommend improvements. In collaboration with Heath and Lineback, Chatham County has developed a Safety Action Plan to enhance safety for all road users. This effort aligns with the Board of Commissioners' Vision Zero commitment to eliminate traffic fatalities. Read the Safety Action Plan here.

Please use this link to see the intersections and segments that were identified as highest priority. 

This project involves the widening and reconstruction of Little Neck Road from U.S. 17/Ogeechee Road to the bridge over I-95, expanding the existing two-lane roadway to four lanes. The improvements will enhance traffic capacity and safety, with a raised center median throughout the corridor.

Additionally, the project includes multi-use paths on both sides of the roadway, with the path on the southeast side extending approximately 1.5 miles from U.S. 17.

Concept plans are available for review. Construction is scheduled to begin following right-of-way acquisition, with an anticipated start date of Fall 2025.

The Georgia Department of Transportation issued Notice to Proceed to Prince Contracting, LLC to begin construction on February 2, 2018. The first of the two bridges was completed and traffic was shifted to the new bridge in July, 2022. The construction of Bridge 2 is underway. The current schedule is to complete Bridge 2 in 2026.

This project will include roadway widening and operational improvements to intersections, drainage features, and pedestrian facilities along a 2.6-mile-long segment of Quacco Road between I-95 and US 17/ Ogeechee Road.  The roadway widening will consist of two travel lanes each way with a center median and turn lanes at various locations.  Pedestrian facilities will be a large part of the improvements for this project. A 10-foot shared use path will be along the north side and a 5-foot sidewalk will be along the south side.

The project was split into two phases for constructon. Phase 1 included the improvements at the intersection of Quacco Road and U.S. 17 and on Quacco Road from U.S. 17 to Winding Way. Phase 1 improvements are complete.  Phase 2 will include the widening of Quacco Road between I-95 and Winding Way. Road widening will begin after clearing is complete and utilties have relocated.   Construction anticipated mid 2025.

Unincorporated Chatham County has approximately 350 miles of roads to maintain.  SPLOST law was changed with the enactment of Sales Tax V that allowed for the resurfacing of existing roadways.  The State provides the County with Local Maintenance Improvement Grant (LMIG) funds each year that we use for resurfacing of roads. The LMIG program requires that for each 70 cents of State LMIG funds, the County provide 30 cents of local SPLOST funds. This total amount is then generally used to determine how much resurfacing is completed each year.  

Attached to your left you will find a list of roads included in the current resurfacing contract. Construction is anticipated to begin in March 2025. Resufacing of those roads will be completed in the summer of 2025. 

The map below features the current road rating of unincorporated Chatham. In February 2023, Chatham County contracted IMS (Infrastructure Management Services) to create a Pavement Management System. IMS drove every road in unincorporated Chatham County with a vehicle designed to collect high-resolution pavement condition data. Once the data was collected a score in the form of a Pavement Condition Index was defined for each road segment using the criteria in ASTM D6433. This criteria considers distress in the pavement such as rutting and cracking. The map below visually represents the pavement condition index of the road segments in Chatham County. The attached report provides additional information on the process and evaluation of the pavement evaluation.

Based on the results of the study, Chatham County’s roadways were found to be in Very Good condition with an average PCI of 70. Our goal going forward is to maintain an average of 70 or better. Using funds provided through Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax and GDOT’s Local Maintenance Improvement Grant, the county works to improve our roadway system through pavement resurfacing and pavement preservation. The County is focusing on resurfacing roads with a PCI less than 50 and extending the life of pavement through pavement preservation on roads with a PCI greater than 70.

This operational improvement project will shift the connection between Islands Expressway and Oatland Island Road on the north side and add turn lanes to improve the function and safety of the intersection. Please see the attached concept display that shows the proposed changes. Due to construction bids that were double the engineers estimate, the project will be rebid at a later date.

Chatham County hired a contractor to replace the existing, deteriorated box culvert on Penn Waller Road at Betz Creek. The project will replace the existing box culvert and construct a new sidewalk to provide connectivity to the existing sidewalks on Penn Waller Road. The replacement requires that Penn Waller Road be closed to traffic between Port Royal Drive and North Sheftall Circle for the duration of the project. The contractor plans to close Penn Waller Road to traffic on May 12, 2025 and re-open the road August 1, 2024.  Detour signs will be placed to divert traffic around the closure.

Any questions regarding the project or the closure can be directed to the Chatham County Department of Engineering at (912) 652-7800.

A short section of concrete wall as well as revetment mats and rip rap are proposed to stabilize the shoulders of Walthour Road adjacent to Betz Creek. The improvements will also include sidewalk on the west side of Walthour Road. This project will require closure of Walthour Road for several months to complete construction. Advanced notice of the road closure will be provided with Message Boards and Media. This project was bid in June of 2023 with no bids received. The wall design is currently under revision. This project is anticipated to be re-bid in the summer of 2025.

A project is proposed to construct improvements at the existing intersection of Johnny Mercer Boulevard at Walthour Road to improve the safety and efficiency of the intersection. A single lane roundabout was the recommended solution from an Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE) Study and was the preferred solution of the residents who attended or submitted comments for the Public Information Open House held in April, 2022.  Please see the attached exhibit of the proposed roundabout.

Construction plans are being developed to build a single lane roundabout that will accommodate truck traffic and provide accessibility for pedestrians and bicycles. Preliminary design is underway and expected to be complete by the end of 2023. Right of way acquisition, final design and permitting are scheduled for 2024. Construction is tenatively scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026 and will take 12 to 18 months to complete.

This is a project to construct a new sidewalk/path along Highway 80 from Johnny Mercer Boulevard to Whitemarsh Village Way. It will provide connectivity from the schools and commercial area to the adjacent neighborhoods and apartment complex.  Final design, right of way acquisition and permitting are complete. Construction is underway.

Upgrades will be made to the interchange at I-16 and State Route 17 through a partnership between Chatham County and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). Chatham County will sponser the preliminary engineering and GDOT will manage construction. The project will widen or replace the existing bridge over I-16 and ramps to accommodate additional traffic volumes to keep the interchange functioning at an acceptable level through 2050. Concept design and review of the alternatives is now complete. The divering diamond was determined to be the best option. Preliminary design is underway. Construction is anticipated in 2026.

A Public Information Open House will be held for this project on July 2, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Bloomingdale City Hall. Public Input will be accepted until July 26, 2024.

Please use this link to access the GDOT project information site.

This project will improve Chevis Road between U.S. 17/Ogeechee Road and Wild Heron Road. The purpose of the project is to improve safety and connectivity for all road users to existing schools, commercial areas, bus stops and neighborhoods. This project will be partially funded with your local SPLOST dollars as well as with federal tax dollars. During the concept phase we will consider what safety, operational and pedestrian improvements will best fit the corridor. The project will also consider bicycles, drainage, lighting and water quality improvements. 

An early Stakeholder meeting was held in April 2023 attended by area organization representatives. We thank those who attended and provided valuable input. The written comments from this meeting are included in the Attachments section. This information along with the disscussions at the meeting are helpful for the ongoing planning and design.

A Public Information Open House was held at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens on May 16, 2024. The initial studies have been taking place and Conceptual Engineering is underway. Concept layouts will be available at the Public Information Open House and are now available for viewing on this web site.  The overall schedule includes design of the selected improvements in 2024-2025, right of way acquisition in 2026 and construction beginning in 2027.

Please view the GDOT project website here. 

This project will make improvements to Garrard Avenue and Lane Avenue between Chatham Parkway and Gamble Road. The project is funded with local SPLOST funds and federal funds. The purpose of the project is to improve safety and connectivity for all road users along the corridor. A Public Information Open House was held on November 3, 2022. Please see the concept layout, handout information and comment response letter on the left. The letter  addresses  public comments received from the open house. Our consultants looked at traffic, environmental features and performed survey in early 2022 and we met with local stakeholders and held the open house in the second half of 2022.  The concept report and layout were approved  by the Georgia Department of Transportation in June, 2023. Preliminary design is underway and anticipated to be complete by the end of this year. The schedule includes right of way acquisition beginning in 2025 and construction tenatively in 2026 after right of way acquisition is complete.

The State Route 204 study will evaluate the operation and safety of State Route 204/ Abercorn Street between US 17 and King George Boulevard. It will also look at alternative access options at Ford Avenue, Pine Grove Drive, and Don Zipperer Road. The study will include public involvement with stakeholder and public meetings. Since the completion of the King George Interchange, the traffic signal at Pine Grove Drive is the new bottleneck point, with a crash frequency well above state average. Due to the high crash frequency, the Department of Transportation is considering closing the median crossing and eliminating the traffic signal. This would improve the operation and safety on State Route 204 but will likely add 10 to 20 minutes of travel time for residents in the communities of Pine Grove Drive and Don Zipperer Road. The goal of the study is to find short and long term solutions for this location. A contract for this study was approved by the Board of Commissioners at the September 8, 2023 meeting.

A Public Information Open House is scheduled for August 19, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens.

Information about the study and alternatives are attached.

This study evaluated the existing and future capacity, operation and safety of U.S. 17/ State Route 25/ Ogeechee Road between the Ogeechee River (County line) and Plymouth Avenue/Mills Lane north of I-516/Lynes Parkway.  The goal of the study was to identify and prioritize short-term and long-term improvements. The study was completed in May 2025. 

To see the results of the corridor study, please visit this link.

President Street Railroad Crossing Elimination Study at the Interchange of President Street and Truman Parkway

Overview

Chatham County, in coordination with the City of Savannah and the Coastal Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (CORE MPO), is conducting a study to identify options for the elimination of the railroad crossing on President Street at its intersection with Truman Parkway. The study will evaluate the existing and future traffic volumes and needs and the operation and safety conditions of the interchange to develop alternatives and costs to eliminate the at-grade railroad crossing. The study will consider freight, commuter and local traffic, and pedestrian/bicyclist travelers. The study will also account for current and future land use patterns and anticipated continued growth, especially for the industrial areas east of Truman Parkway.

The goal of the study will be to identify a preferred alternative, project justification statement and estimated cost that can be further developed into a Concept Report and Preliminary Engineering, which are required steps for moving the project to construction.

The results of the study will be used as a basis to apply for future federal funding through the Federal Railroad Administration’s At-Grade Crossing Elimination Program, as well as other sources of federal funds.

Study Documents and Deliverables

On this page you will find the Draft Final Report, Preferred Short Term and Long Term Layouts, and all Alternatives that were a part of this study.

Background and Purpose

The industries served by the shortline railroad crossing President Street at its intersection with Truman Parkway continues to expand their operations. The industries cite inadequate space within their railroad terminal to add additional track to reduce the number of blockages. This combination has resulted in longer trains and has increased the frequency of blocked traffic on President Street, particularly during morning and afternoon commuting hours. As such, the study will evaluate alternatives and their associated costs for construction of a grade- separated crossing to eliminate the delays and improve the safety of the crossing.

Complicating the existing, at-grade railroad crossing is the intersection with the Truman Parkway. Elimination of the rail crossing could eliminate delays and improve safety for the average of 40,000 vehicles per day that use this area to get to and from downtown Savannah.

The industries served by this railroad expect annual total truck trips using the President Street/Truman Parkway interchange to more than double by the year 2032. It is imperative that planning starts now to reduce congestion and delays associated with the at-grade rail crossing as well as improve the safety and mobility through the interchange.

Project Update: Concept has been approved by GDOT.  Report can be found here:LSCR Concept Report(please note that this link directs you to GDOT's project page then scroll to the bottom under project documents and click to download the approved project concept.)

Survey is underway for this project.  Please note that the marking on the trees do NOT mean removal.  All trees greater than 12" have to be included in the survey database.  The trees are being marked ot indicate they have been surveyed.  

On Thursday, December 5th, Chatham County Engineering held an Open House Community Meeting at Skidaway Island Baptist Church from 4 PM to 7 PM.  At this drop in style meeting, the project concept was on display and Chatham County representatives were available to answer questions. Based on feedback from this meeting and an online survey that was conducted from Dec. 6 to Jan. 3, the original concept showing the path crossing Green Island Road was revised.  The new alignment shows the path running along the westside of Green Island Road. The concept was sent to GDOT for approval in March and was approved by GDOT in June. 

Green Island Road Path is an off-road, multipurpose trail that is proposed to run adajacent to Green Island Road from Diamond Causeway to the cul-de-sac, approximately 2.1 miles in length.  A seperate county project is underway which signalizes the 4-way stop and extends the Green Island Path project to Lake Street.

Chatham County is planning to construct a new facility for the Chatham County Marine Patrol. This facility will serve as their operational headquarters, maintenance shop, and location for all stored equipment and department fleet (trucks, trailers, boats while not on the water).  The facility will be located at 190 W Tournament Way on the north side of Hutchinson Island on the Back River. 

Design is anticpated to be complete in the 4th quarter of 2025. 

SPLOST funds are being used for the design and planned construction of this facility.

Chatham County is planning to construct a new facility to service a portion of Chatham County’s fleet, focusing on the larger, heavy-duty fleet vehicles. The facility will include office space, storage for parts, and drive thru maintenance bays designed to accommodate the County’s largest and most heavy-duty vehicles.

Design for the new facility has been completed.  Bidding for the construction contract is underway with start of construction anticipated for 3rd quarter of 2025.

This projects provides necessary modernization to the four existing elevators of the J. Tom Coleman Courthouse. This will be completed in two stages, completing 2 elevators at a time. The first stage is anticipated to be complete the 4th quarter of 2025, with the second stage following with an anticpated completion date in the 2nd quarter of 2026.

The project provides access to clean out and regularly maintain a drainage channel which is severely impacted and is having negative impacts on the Barnett Drive area of the Isle of Hope. These actions will improve drainage conditions in the area, which has seen chronic flooding over the years. The project will increase pipe sizes within the area,further reducing flooding.

The project studies various watersheds within the County. These watersheds include St. Augustine Creek, Black Creek, and Dundee Canals. The completed studies will develop interactive watershed models of existing conditions, identify problem areas, and develop drainage improvement plans for each of the basins.

The project replaces the existing box culvert. The existing culvert shows signs of deterioration. The replacement will remove the possibility of sudden failure under traffic. The new culvert will be longer which provides a shoulder of sufficient width to construct sidewalk to improve pedestrian safety in the area of St. Andrews on the Marsh school.

The project replaces a failing outfall pipe with a new larger conduit and extend the pipe system up through Ashley Road. The improvements will improve flow capabilities and reduce maintenance responsibilities.

The project improves drainage conditions in the Red Gate canal watershed and Westlake area by improving culvert and channel capacity while constructing a new stormwater system to divert stormwater from the existing overloaded outfalls and transport it to the receiving waters.

The project improves drainage conditions in the existing channel by removing obstructions, widening the channel where needed, and replacing undersized conduits in the portion between Marshall Avenue and Veterans Parkway. The project also constructs an access road along the channel to allow for better maintenance of the facility.

This project will complete an existing conditions assessment of drainage conditions in the Hardin Canal watershed. This completed assessment will be used as a base to project future conditions assuming full buildout of the watershed. This future scenario will be used to identify problem areas and solutions.

This project installs a new drainage system along Richmond Drive on Isle of Hope to relief an overwhelmed existing drainage system.  The proposed storm system will outfall through the Wymberly Garden Club to the Skidaway River.

This project constructs a new storm system on Island Road on Burnside Island and discharges along Sullivan Drive to the tidal inlet.