Georgia awards record $468 million contract for I-16 widening project

Bulloch, Bryan, Effingham and Chatham Counties, Ga. (WTOC) - The Georgia Department of Transportation has awarded the largest design-build contract in state history for the long-awaited widening of Interstate 16.

The $468.35 million contract was awarded to Matthews-McClendon Joint Venture and Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering (ICE), LLC for the first phase of the I-16 Widening Project between Interstate 95 and State Route 67.

According to Georgia DOT, the winning proposal will widen approximately 17.77 miles of I-16 from the I-16/I-95 interchange to mile marker 139.65 in Bryan County.

The project is part of a 32-mile corridor improvement that will expand I-16 from two to three lanes in each direction, improve safety and support southeast Georgia’s growing population and freight traffic.

“This widening of I-16 is an essential step to keep pace with the rapid growth and increasing freight activity across southeast Georgia,” said Georgia DOT Project Manager Rick O’Hara. “By expanding the corridor and strengthening its infrastructure, we’re improving safety and ensuring this route continues to reliably serve the communities and industries that depend on it.”

The project also includes replacing or widening 12 bridges, including crossings over the Ogeechee River, Little Ogeechee River and Georgia Central Railway. Georgia DOT said the work will remain mostly within the existing interstate right-of-way to reduce costs and property impacts, using an innovative best-value design-build process to maximize improvements within the project’s budget.

State leaders say the widening project is fully funded and designed to support continued population growth, freight movement and economic development across southeast Georgia.

Construction on the first phase is expected to begin in 2027, with the remainder of the 32-mile corridor completed in future phases using the same design-build approach.