DOT says no to Highway 133, yes to Leesburg bypass - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

DOT says no to Highway 133, yes to Leesburg bypass

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By Jennifer Emert - bio | email

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - The DOT put up a red light for another major south Georgia project Thursday.  

The Department won't fund the widening project for Highway 133. The director of planning said it would take years to secure enough money to four lane the highway between Albany and Valdosta. He suggested the project be done in pieces. South Georgia officials say nearly 15 million dollars has already been spent to study and plan the project. They say it needs to be completed.

"We need this project to move forward, we've invested money, the cost continues to go up we started out at 165 million dollars and we're now estimating 400 million dollars to finish the project and if they continue to delay it that price continues to go up," said Max Hancock, former Colquitt County Commissioner.

An overpass to bypass traffic congestion in Leesburg and connect Highway 19 and 195 is moving forward. Money has been allocated to purchase rights of way for that project, though there's no money for construction.

DOT engineers say a scaled back, two lane version of the project is more likely to get approval and would cost six million dollars versus the original 30 million dollar project.


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