SR17 Road Work to Cause Detours in Avalon and Martin

Expect more delays and detours for the next several months on SR17 as work continues to build the new four-lane highway.

On Friday, G-DOT announced several side road closings in the Martin area where construction is taking place.

According to G-DOT spokesperson Teri Pope, work is progressing on relocating State Route 17 at the Railroad Crossing close to the Stephens Franklin County Line in Martin.

Beginning today, the work requires road changes between Avalon and Martin Monday, January 26 for about 60 days if weather cooperates.

“The roadwork will change the roads around SR17 between Avalon and Martin,” Pope said. “Banks Street will be closed beginning today so we can change the grade of the road.”

Pope said the signed detour route will direct traffic from Bank Street to Hurricane Grove Road to Anderson Thomas Road.  Additionally, Pope said Price Road will be closed at its current intersection with SR 17.

“We need to rebuild Price St to come in a couple hundred feet away from the current intersection,” Pope said. “The detour will be SR17 to Childs St. to Old Mill Road to Anderson Thomas to Gumlog Creek Road and back to Price Road.

There will be signs for all detours, Pope said.

Pope said the work on both roads will take about 60 days to complete.

The widening of State Route 17 from Toccoa to Interstate 85 is part of the 2012 Georgia Statewide Freight and Logistics Plan, which outlined the most viable freight routes providing the necessary connectivity to accommodate present and projected future freight flow through the state.

The entire widening project form the Franklin-Stephens County line to Memorial Drive in Toccoa is expected to be completed by May, 2016.