This month, the Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) welcomed Henry County elected officials for a tour and briefing highlighting major transportation projects across the county. The tour was attended by numerous elected officials and staff from Henry County, City of McDonough, and City of Stockbridge, including Henry County Board of Commissioners Chair Carlotta Harrell and Stockbridge Mayor Jayden Williams.

"These Henry County transportation projects are designed to better serve residents, commuters, and businesses while supporting the county’s long-term transportation needs," said Dana Lemon, Congressional District 13 (CD 13) representative on the Georgia State Transportation Board. CD 13 includes Clayton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton and Rockdale counties. Lemon led the tour along with Tyler Peek, District Engineer for GDOT’s west central region.

During the visit, local leaders and the Georgia DOT team reviewed the status of key projects, discussed current and anticipated challenges, and outlined how these investments will enhance safety, mobility, and economic growth throughout Henry County. A few of the projects discussed include:

• State Route (SR) 20 Widening - One of the county's most impactful long-term transportation improvement projects, the widening of SR 20/81 is critical for east–west travel and will improve reliability and reduce bottlenecks. This project is anticipated to be completed in 2027. 
• Rock Quarry Road Widening - A critical local route connector supporting residential growth, industrial traffic, and hospital access. The Rock Quarry Road Widening will improve traffic flow in the area and is anticipated to be completed in 2028. 
• I-75 Express Lanes Project - This significant infrastructure improvement will enhance traffic flow, reduce congestion, and expand roadway capacity for the growing population in the area by constructing additional tolled managed lanes that will add capacity to the existing I-75 South Metro Express Lanes system making it fully bi-directional, allowing 24-hour concurrent northbound and southbound travel. Currently, the system is reversible, facilitating only northbound travel in the morning and southbound travel in the afternoon and evening. Governor Brian P. Kemp’s amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget recommendation, which has been approved by the Georgia General Assembly, allocates $1.8 billion for this project which is in the concept phase. 

"Georgia DOT’s continued partnership between city and county leadership is critical to ensuring these projects are delivered efficiently and with minimal disruption to local communities," said Lemon. "Georgia DOT has several ongoing projects throughout Henry County, and I look forward to further discussions with local officials on the impact Georgia's transportation investments will have on improving traffic flow, increasing connectivity, and supporting future growth across the region."

Other Henry County projects discussed during the briefing included SR 42 Widening, Western Parallel Connector, SR 81 at New Morn Drive, SR 81 Widening (Phase 1), SR 20 at Lawrenceville and McGarity, SR 42 Bridge over Norfolk-Southern Railroad, and I-75 at Bethlehem Road Interchange.

To learn more about Georgia DOT projects in Henry County and across the state, please visit the Georgia DOT Projects Search Portal.