Interstate 16, Interstate highway in Georgia, United States
Interstate 16 is a federal highway extending 166 miles from Macon to Savannah, connecting Interstate 75 with the Port of Savannah. It crosses eleven Georgia counties and serves as a major transportation corridor between central and coastal Georgia.
Construction of Interstate 16 began in March 1963 in Laurens and Treutlen Counties, with the final segment completed in September 1978. The project took roughly fifteen years to establish this connection between Macon and the coast.
The highway carries the name Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, commemorating a significant figure in Georgia transportation development. This naming reflects the route's importance to the region's growth.
The highway includes contraflow provisions that allow officials to convert all lanes to westbound traffic during hurricane evacuations from the coast toward inland areas. Drivers should expect potential traffic redirections during severe weather warnings.
Except for a six-lane section in Macon, the entire route maintains four lanes throughout its path across southern Georgia. This modest design is unusual compared to other interstates, which typically expand significantly in urban areas.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
