The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is moving closer to construction on the long-planned State Route 20 Connector, a major highway project designed to improve traffic flow and freight movement between Rome and Interstate 75 in Bartow County.
During a recent Public Information Open House, GDOT officials shared final project details and construction timelines for the roadway, which was previously known as the Rome-Cartersville Development Corridor. The project has now been divided into two construction phases.
Phase I (PI 0020049) will extend the SR 20 Connector from Grassdale Road to Old Grassdale Road and is scheduled to begin construction in the third quarter of 2027.
Phase II (PI 0013238) will connect State Route 3 to Grassdale Road, with construction currently expected to begin in the first quarter of 2028.
According to GDOT, the project is intended to address increasing traffic congestion between U.S. 411/U.S. 41 and I-75, driven by rapid population and employment growth in both Bartow and Floyd counties. Officials also say the new connector will improve access between Rome and the interstate while providing a more efficient truck route for freight traffic.
Currently, motorists traveling between Floyd County and I-75 primarily rely on U.S. 411, U.S. 41/SR 20, SR 53 and SR 140. Those corridors have experienced growing congestion during peak travel hours, with increasing commercial truck traffic adding to delays.
The new SR 20 Connector will include four 12-foot travel lanes, two in each direction, along with paved shoulders and five-foot sidewalks in urban sections. Plans also call for construction of a new I-75 interchange north of the existing Old Grassdale Road overpass, which will replace the current overpass.
Additional features include a landscaped median, roundabouts at several intersections, and reduced conflict U-turn intersections designed to improve safety and maintain traffic flow.
GDOT expects the project to reduce through traffic on the existing SR 140 and U.S. 41/SR 20 corridors while supporting continued economic development by strengthening the transportation connection between Rome and the I-75 corridor.
The project remains in the final design stage. Before construction begins, GDOT must complete final plan approvals, updated environmental studies and permitting.
Project displays, design plans and environmental documents are available for public review on the project’s website. Residents with questions may also contact GDOT Project Manager Olusola Adekonojo or Environmental Analyst Amanda von Oldenburg through the department’s dedicated project email.
