Effingham Parkway nears milestone as roundabouts, bridges take shape

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - If you travel in and out of Effingham County, you may have noticed a long‑anticipated road project making significant progress.

The Effingham Parkway is now paved at the Georgia Highway 30 and Benton Boulevard end, and several bridges are already complete.

The new parkway will provide a third north–south route between Chatham and Effingham counties, offering drivers an alternative to the often-congested Georgia Highway 21.

“It’s a relief for a project that’s been in the planning stages for well over a decade,” said Tim Callanan, Effingham County manager. “It’s going to provide an enormous amount of increased capacity.”

The joint state-and-county project had been expected to finish earlier, but the timeline has shifted. County officials now project substantial completion in spring 2026, with full completion to Blue Jay Road expected by July 2026.

Costs have risen from the original $56 million estimate. Callanan said upgrades to intersections , replacing planned two-way stops with roundabouts on the county side, added roughly $4 million to the project but will improve traffic flow and safety.

“They’re going to run much more smoothly than what was planned there… so it’s well worth the investment,” Callanan said.

Construction on the roundabout providing access to the parkway at Goshen Road is scheduled to begin in January.

Total completion of the parkway, all the way to Blue Jay Road, is expected by July 2026.