The long-awaited roundabout project in Clarkesville has been delayed once again, with the new construction start date now pushed to the fall of 2025.
Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Communications Officer for District 1 Nathan Johnston provided an update on the status of the roundabout at the intersection of GA 17/GA 385 and GA 197. “This project has shifted out due to construction funding and now has a Let Date of 10-17-25,” Johnston said, referring to the date when bids for the project will be opened.
Originally, GDOT had projected that construction on the Clarkesville roundabout would begin in late 2023 or early 2024. However, delays have occurred due to issues with right of way revisions and the relocation of utilities, causing the timeline to be extended.
The idea for a roundabout in Clarkesville was first conceived in 2019 and GDOT opened the project to public comment in May of 2021. The proposal faced significant opposition from the community.
SEE RELATED: Survey reveals strong opposition to Clarkesville roundabout
The Clarkesville roundabout was estimated to cost $2.6 million when the project was initially proposed in 2021. For comparison, the roundabout project on GA 105/GA 115, which began construction last year, was initially estimated at $2.8 million but ended up costing nearly twice that amount at $4.98 million. No updated cost estimate for the Clarkesville roundabout has been provided yet.
SEE ALSO: Roundabouts coming to Clarkesville and Demorest
Meanwhile, the GA 105/GA 115 roundabout, which has been operational since November, is still not fully completed. Johnston noted that while the roundabout is functional, additional work remains. The project’s expected completion date is Summer of 2025, depending on weather conditions.
