Old Albany Road Project

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) partners with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in facilitating and providing an opportunity for local governments to pursue non-traditional transportation-related activities such as pedestrian facilities, bicycle facilities, and pedestrian streetscaping projects. The Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) improves the quality of life for citizens in communities across the state by providing local governments the means to pursue projects that might not otherwise be possible. TAP was authorized by the Federal Transportation Funding Act, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21).

The Old Albany Road Sidewalk Project will construct new sidewalks and improve drainage systems along US 84 BUS / State Route (SR) 38 BUS / Old Albany Road from City Street (CS) 817 / North Boulevard to CS 790 / Plantation Oak Drive. Old Albany Road is an important entry into the City of Thomasville but has ditches with steep embankments and narrow to non-existent shoulders creating an unfriendly pedestrian experience. This project will provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant sidewalks for pedestrians to access access to parks, schools, and industrial and commercial work facilities. At the intersection of North Boulevard and Old Albany Road, sidewalks currently exist which take pedestrians into the City’s downtown area, home to historic sites such as the All Saints Episcopal Church and the historic downtown shopping district.

The increased connectivity to non-motorist transportation facilities will improve the community’s economic potential by connecting non-drivers to jobs, education, services, and community amenities and aligns with the City of Thomasville’s Comprehensive Plan (Thomasville Blueprint 2028). Overall, the project focuses on creating a more accessible environment by providing safe pedestrian travel facilities, improving quality of place, improving lifestyle amenities, and increasing safety by providing safer routes to school and daily needs.

Project Update

August 2026

Box Culvert: Contractors continue pavement reconstruction at the approaches to the box culvert.
Curb and Sidewalk: Contractors continue placing curb and gutter on the east side of the project.
Grading/Embankment/Erosion: Contractors continue installing permanent sod and erosion control measures throughout the project area. Final grading operations continue throughout the project area.
Gravity Walls: Contractors completed construction of gravity walls throughout the project area.
Maintenance of Traffic Control: The contractor continues to manage traffic signage throughout the project area. Periodic lane closures will continue during the project to allow the contractor to work safely. Flaggers are on site directing traffic throughout the project area. Travelers in the area are encouraged to select an alternate route or prepare for potential traffic delays.
Mill & Resurfacing: Contractors have begun initial preparations for milling and resurfacing of the project area.
Pedestrian Bridge: Contractors have completed bridge installation. The bridge is still an active construction site and is not open for public use.
Rapid Flash Beacon: Contractors completed installation of a Rapid Flashing Beacon for the new pedestrian crosswalk near the Hunters Chase Apartments.
Stormwater Drains: Contractors have completed stormwater work throughout the project area.

July 2026

Box Culvert: Contractors are scheduled to perform pavement reconstruction at the approaches to the box culvert.
Curb and Sidewalk: Contractors completed curb, sidewalks, and driveways on the west side of the project and have poured curb and gutter on the east side of the project. This work will continue over the next three weeks.
Grading/Embankment/Erosion: Contractors continue installing permanent sod and erosion control measures throughout the project area. Final grading operations will continue over the next couple of weeks.
Gravity Walls: Contractors completed construction of gravity walls throughout the project area.
Maintenance of Traffic Control: The contractor, HTS, continues to manage traffic signage throughout the project area. Periodic lane closures will continue during the project to allow the contractor to work safely. Flaggers are on site directing traffic throughout the project area. Travelers in the area are encouraged to select an alternate route or prepare for potential traffic delays. Google Maps has been updated with the detour information to help travelers unfamiliar with this area.
Pedestrian Bridge: Contractors have completed bridge installation. The bridge is still an active construction site and is not open for public use.
Rapid Flash Beacon: Contractors are currently installing a Rapid Flash Beacon for the new pedestrian crosswalk near the Hunters Chase Apartments.
Stormwater Drains: Contractors have completed stormwater work throughout the project area.

June 2026

Curb and Sidewalk: Contractors formed and poured curb, sidewalk, and driveways between Villa North Apartments and the west side of the project. This work will continue over the next two weeks.
Grading/Embankment: Installation of permanent sod along the construction zone is underway, and erosion control measures continue to be maintained throughout the project area.
Gravity Walls: Contractors completed construction of wall #2 south of Cannon Street and wall #3 north of Cannon Street.
Maintenance of Traffic Control: The contractor, HTS, continues to manage traffic signage throughout the project area. Periodic lane closures will continue during the project to allow the contractor to work safely. Flaggers are on site directing traffic throughout the project area. Travelers in the area are encouraged to select an alternate route or prepare for potential traffic delays. Google Maps has been updated with the detour information to help travelers unfamiliar with this area.
Pedestrian Bridge: Most of the bridge installation is complete. The bridge is still an active construction site and is not open for public use.
Stormwater Drains: Minimal stormwater work continues throughout the project area.

May 2026

Curb and Sidewalk: Contractors formed and poured curb, sidewalk, and driveways between Highland Street and Villa North Apartments. Formed and poured curb on west side of the project. Contractors expect to continue construction of curb, sidewalk, and driveways North of Villa North Apartments over the next two weeks.
Grading/Embankment: Contractors continue installing and maintaining erosion control items throughout the project area.
Gravity Walls: Contractors substantially completed construction of wall #1 at the box culvert location and began construction of wall #2 south of Cannon Street. Over the next two weeks, contractors expect to complete wall #2 and begin construction of wall #3 North of Cannon Street.
Maintenance of Traffic Control: The contractor, HTS, continues to manage traffic signage throughout the project area. Periodic lane closures will continue during the project to allow the contractor to work safely. Flaggers are on site directing traffic throughout the project area. Travelers in the area are encouraged to select an alternate route or prepare for potential traffic delays. Google Maps has been updated with the detour information to help travelers unfamiliar with this area.
Pedestrian Bridge: Most of the bridge installation is complete. The bridge is still an active construction site and is not open for public use.
Stormwater Drains: Completed installation of storm drain trunkline. Minimal stormwater work continues throughout the project area.

April 2026

Curb and Sidewalk: Crews have formed and poured curb and sidewalk between Bermuda Street and Villa North Apartments.
Grading/Embankment: Contractors continue installing and maintaining erosion control items throughout the project area.

March 2026

Curb construction is about to begin starting at the south end of the project, and the majority of the bridge installation is now complete.

February 2026

Contractors delivered and set the pedestrian bridge and completed construction of the retaining walls. Crews also formed and poured the remaining end bents. Installation of the storm drain trunkline up to the vicinity of Holland Street continued.

December 2025/January 2026

This month, contractors substantially completed forming and placing steel and concrete for the end bents of the pedestrian bridge. Construction of end bent backwalls has begun. Contractors began installing storm drainage north of the pedestrian bridge location. Installation of storm drainage between North Blvd. (Old Cairo Rd) and the pedestrian bridge location is now complete.

November 2025

Worked continued this month on the pedestrian bridge including installation of bridge support piles. Stormwater drain and catch basin installations continued throughout the project area

October 2025

Work this month included:

Contractors began preparation work on the foundation of the pedestrian bridge, including install of a temporary wall for a crane pad and mobilization of a crane to the project site.
Contractors continued stormwater drain and catch basin installations throughout the project area.

September 2025

Work this month included:

The large majority of clearing and grubbing activities in preparation of stormwater drain and sidewalk installation has been completed.
Contractors completed fill work along the east side of Old Albany Road between Holland Street and Villa North Apartments.
Preparations for the pedestrian bridge began.

August 2025

Work this month included:

Silt fencing has been erected throughout the project area.
A significant amount of project materials and supply were delivered to the project area.
Trees and shrubs were removed to prepare for storm drain and sidewalk installation. This is especially noticeable near Oquina Creek and the area between Villa North & Holland Street.

July 2025

Clearing activities began, including the removal of trees and shrubs to prepare for stormdrain and sidewalk installation. This will be especially noticeable near Oquina Creek. Initial stormdrain work began near North Boulevard.

June 2025

The project kicked off this month! This is a federally-funded project by the Federal Highway Administration through the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and on a GDOT road. The project area is on Old Albany Road between North Boulevard to Plantation Oak Drive, bringing new sidewalks and drainage enhancements to the corridor.

Old Albany Road is a key gateway into the City of Thomasville. However, its existing steep embankments, open ditches, and narrow or missing shoulders currently create a challenging and unsafe experience for pedestrians.

The improvements underway will:

Provide safe and accessible sidewalks for pedestrians
Improve access to schools, parks, workplaces, and essential services
Enhance safety with better routes for walking and biking
Support a higher quality of life by increasing mobility and lifestyle amenities