Gray Highway upgrades hit red light in federal shutdown

A continuing federal government shutdown has postponed the approval of a federally funded project to add streetlights, multiuse trails and sidewalks to parts of Gray Highway, according to Macon-Bibb County officials.

The project would add sidewalks from Shurling Drive to Walmart and to the intersection of Woodlawn Drive and Gray Highway, Traffic Safety Manager Weston Stroud said. 

Additionally, a planned multiuse trail for bikes and walkers would follow Clinton Road and connect to the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, North Highland Park and Camellia Garden.

The county is currently in the grant agreement process, Stroud said. He added that, when the federal government reopens, the mayor and county commission will receive a finalized grant form to vote upon and sign. That form will then be returned to federal officials for a final OK.

The project is funded by a $7 million Safe Streets and Roads for All grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Those grant funds were allocated in 2024 under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and with the approval of the Biden presidential administration.

There is a five-year window of completion from time of approval, Stroud said.

He shared project updates during a Pedestrian Safety Month summit Oct. 1, noting that while Gray Highway carries about 40,000 vehicles a day, county officials are focused on finding ways to better serve people and not just cars.

Traffic calming requests redirected

Stroud also outlined a new process for residents reporting potential traffic-calming concerns.

The county’s online SeeClickFix portal, which residents use to report issues from code enforcement to animal welfare, has seen an influx of duplicate reports and large-scale requests — such as speed humps — that require traffic studies and additional review before installation, he said.

When Stroud became traffic safety manager in 2024, he added traffic-specific categories to SeeClickFix to help prioritize smaller issues, such as signal timing, that could be addressed within 48 hours to one week.

To prevent the system from becoming overloaded, Stroud asked that requests for larger projects instead be emailed directly to Janice Ross at jross@maconbibb.us.