LAKE PARK – The Georgia Department of Transportation is planning to reconstruct two Interstate 75 interchanges in Lowndes County and invites the public to review the projects Aug. 25.

The public information open house is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Lake Park Civic Center, 123 N. Essa St. Plans will be displayed and representatives from the various phases of project development will be available to answer questions. There will not be a formal presentation.

Georgia DOT proposes to reconstruct the I-75 interchanges of Exit 2/Bellville Road/Lake Park Road and Exit 11/state Route 31/Madison Highway to improve safety and operation. Both overpasses, built in 1961, would be replaced with longer bridges. The existing twin bridges over the interstate at Exit 11 will be replaced with one bridge with opposing lanes separated by a raised median. The entrance and exit ramps at both interchanges will be lengthened and widened to accommodate future traffic volumes and give drivers more distance to accelerate or decelerate when entering and exiting traffic.

Written comments may be submitted during the open house and a court reporter will be on site to record verbal statements. Written comments also may be submitted by mail or online by Sept. 8. Mail comments to:

Eric Duff
State Environmental Administrator
Georgia Department of Transportation
600 West Peachtree St. NW
16^th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30308

The link to submit online comments will not be available until after the open houses are held. To comment online, follow these instructions:

1. Go to www.dot.ga.gov/PS/Public/PublicOutreach;
2. From the menu, select the county in which the proposed project is located (Lowndes) and click Go;
3. Select I-75 at Exits 2/Bellville and 11/Madison Hwy;
4. Click Comment and follow the instructions.

A Georgia DOT representative will respond and all comments will be made part of the project’s official record.

The project displays and plans will be available for review for 10 days after the open houses at the link noted above. Copies also will be available at the Georgia DOT area office in Valdosta (be sure to verify the correct office location with the District Office, Design Office or by checking the ad)at 1411 Madison Highway. Following the 10-day public comment period, a copy of all comments received will be available by request at the Atlanta address listed above.