The city of Statesboro will hold a public information meeting Tuesday on the proposed Blue Mile Phase 2 project, which includes roadway, utility and drainage improvements along South Main St. The Aug. 25 meeting is set for 5-7 p.m. at the Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau, 222 South Main Street.
According to a release from the city, it will be conducted in an open-house format, and residents may drop in at any point during the two-hour window. There will be no formal presentation. Staff and members of the project team will be on hand to answer questions, review project displays and collect public comments.
Phase 2 of the Blue Mile Streetscape would extend from the intersection of South Main St. and Fair Road to the Statesboro Regional Library, just beyond South Main St.'s intersection with Grady Street.
The project picks up where Blue Mile Phase 1 left off. That phase, completed in 2023, ran from Tillman Road to Fair Road. Phase 2 begins near the intersection with Fair Road, just north of the proposed Georgia Department of Transportation roundabout.
Planned improvements include rehabilitating South Main St., adding a grass boulevard and installing new sidewalks with brick pavers. The offset intersection at South Main St. and Grady St. would be realigned, and the existing traffic signal there would be upgraded to meet current GDOT specifications.
Additionally, left-turn lanes will be added to both East and West Grady Streets at the intersection with South Main, as well as left-turn lanes on East and West Jones Avenues.
The project also calls for replacing the existing drainage system with new pipes and stormwater structures, consolidating overhead utility lines into a single line, and relocating city water, sewer, and gas facilities, as needed. Landscaping is also planned along the corridor.
The release stated that construction is expected to affect traffic primarily through lane shifts rather than full detours, similar to the approach used during the project's first phase. Crews will work on one side of the road at a time to install underground utilities and infrastructure before shifting to the opposite side. All businesses along the corridor will remain accessible throughout construction.
The project carries a current cost estimate of $10 million, covering roadway, infrastructure, the Grady St. and Jones Ave. intersections, utility work and right-of-way acquisition.
Funding will be provided by the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, with possible additional financial assistance from GDOT. The project is projected to let in the fourth quarter of 2027, followed by a construction period of about 24 months.
Members of the public are invited to attend Tuesday’s meeting and provide feedback. Written comments may be submitted at the meeting or mailed by Sept. 25 to:
Brad Deal, P.E., City Engineer, City of Statesboro, 50 E. Main St., Statesboro, GA 30458.
Comments may also be emailed to engineering@statesboroga.gov