The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has released a new detour map for the closure of Jimmy Daniell Road at SR 316 scheduled for Sept. 14, underscoring that travel along that major artery in the county is about to get much more difficult.
The very busy intersection of the Oconee Connector with SR 316 now also has a flashing sign indicating that a change in the traffic pattern there will begin on Sept. 18.
Bridgework now is underway at all three of the intersections in the construction bundle: Jimmy Daniell Road, Virgil Langford Road, and the Oconee Connector.
The bridgework is the least advanced at the Oconee Connector intersection, but, in one sense, the work there is the most complicated, as two bridges are being constructed to carry SR 316 over the Connector.
A bridge already is in place carrying Jimmy Daniell Road over SR 316, and work is well underway on the pillars to carry Virgil Langford Road over SR 316.
The Jimmy Daniell Road interchange will include roundabouts on both the north and south side of the bridge to connect with the entrance and exit ramps for SR 316.
The newly released map for the detour has moved the closure point on the north side of bridge north of the intersection of Jimmy Daniell Road and Meriweather Drive, clarifying that Meriweather Drive will be closed to through traffic.
No access to SR 316 will be possible from Virgil Langford Road once the bridge is operational, and access to and from SR 316 at the Oconee Connector will stretch back to Virgil Langford Road on the west and far along SR 316 on the east.
Detour Route
The detour route for traffic on Jimmy Daniell Road north of SR 316 begins at Meriweather Drive and directs drivers to follow Jimmy Daniell Road north for approximately 1.5 miles.
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| New Detour Map (Click To Enlarge) |
Vehicles will then travel west on Atlanta Highway for approximately 0.8 miles and turn south onto US 78 for approximately 1 mile to reach SR 316.
Traffic on Jimmy Daniell Road south of SR 316, beginning at the intersection of Jimmy Daniell Road and SR 316, will follow Jimmy Daniell Road south for approximately 0.6 miles.
Vehicles will then turn south onto Virgil Langford Road for approximately 340 feet and turn west onto Mars Hill Road for approximately 2.4 miles. At that point, traffic will turn right on US 78, intersecting with SR 316 after approximately 1,500 feet.
During the detour period, access to residential driveways, local businesses, and public facilities will be maintained, according to the GDOT.
GDOT also states “that popular navigation applications may not reflect the detour changes immediately, so relying on official signage is advised.”
The newly released map includes a blow-up of the intersection of Jimmy Daniell Road and Meriweather Drive to show the location of barricades.
Included are the barricades at Meriweather Drive, which was not closed on the originally announced detour plans.
Eastbound and westbound lanes on SR 316 will remain open during construction, according to GDOT.
The detour is projected to last six months.
Bundle Newsletter
GDOT, in its SR 316 Bundle 2 Project Newsletter released on Aug. 31, reported that beam setting for the new bridge at Jimmy Daniell Road “was completed in August, marking an important milestone for bridge construction.”
“The walls supporting the bridgework are also complete, and crews are continuing earthwork and grading activities as the new roadway alignment takes shape,” the newsletter said.
“Utility relocations for power, telecommunications, and water have been completed,” the newsletter continues. “Crews remain focused on earthwork, roadway construction, and bridge construction activities,” the newsletter continues.
“As work advances, the six-month closure and detour of Jimmy Daniell Road at SR 316 will begin on September 14,” the newsletter states.
“Construction operations on SR 316 will pause at noon on the Friday before UGA home football games and resume Monday morning following the gameday weekend,” according to the newsletter.
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| Oconee Connector Looking North At SR 316 9/7/2026 |
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| Initial Bridge Work At Oconee Connector Looking West 9/7/2026 |
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| GDOT Picture Jimmy Daniell Road Bridge Released 8/31/2026 |
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