GEORGIA, USA — For those of us who commute and travel between the Sardis Church Road and Byron exits on Interstate-75, it's driving people crazy.
Many of you reached out to 13WMAZ with your complaints and frustrations about the road.
When we took those comments to the Georgia Department of Transportation, they said there's an end date in sight: the end of May 2024.
Elva Barksdale says she's disappointed that it's taking more time than they initially anticipated in past reports.
As a two-time cancer survivor, Barksdale said, these days, she's making regular commutes for her errands and doctor visits.
She said she has to take I-75 to get to Macon and other parts of Central Georgia.
"I have appointments there and I'm usually going to church on Sunday," Barksdale said. "The commute is awful."
She says it is awful because "the highway is so messed up."
"It's really messed up," she continued. "It's got holes in it, there's potholes and uneven cement. Like, splotches of whatever you call that black stuff."
Even her car let her know there's a problem when her tire pressure light came on.
"My light came on, and I had to go and get [air] in all four of 'em," Barksdale said.
"I'm surprised." she exclaimed. "Because, I've never had to get air in my tires, so I know it's the highway."
Gina Snider from GDOT acknowledged the road is uneven.
"It's gonna be bumpy, still, because that smooth asphalt is not laid down," Snider said.
Snider explained the smooth slabs GDOT construction workers are supposed to install on the road will solve that issue.
In a statement from last September, GDOT explained "The area is having its concrete slabs rehabbed which includes the milling, grinding and then paving of the new ones on this portion of I-75."
The widening project has made progress since the stretch of I-75 between Sardis Church Road and Highway-96 in Perry, Snider explained, which has the smoothed asphalt already laid out on the southern half.
GDOT said they are in the process of completing the northern half of the project by the end of May this year.
Issues that hold the project up are rain and cold weather, as well as federal holidays and heavy travel times like spring break.
"It's unfortunate, right now, that it's like this, but by the end of May, for the summer, it'll be all smooth sailing," Snider said.
Since living in Central Georgia for the past few decades, Barksdale said it was never like this until a few years ago.
"Very few cars were on the highway," Barksdale said. "Now, it's just booming. Like, everybody's moving to Georgia for some reason. But here it is the worst."
She said she's disappointed in the Georgia Department of Transportation and reached out to them to complain. Barksdale said they told her it was still being worked on, but she never sees people on the roads.
"I see a sign that says working, closed at 8 o'clock, but I see no people out there," Barksdale inquired.
The strip between the 149 Byron exit and the 153 Sardis Church Road exit has road signs labeling it as a construction zone.
National Work Zone is the week of April 15 to 19, but it is always important to bear in mind to drive with extra caution in work zones for everyone involved.
On the bumpy strip, Barksdale said she's gripping for her life on the interstate.
"I always drive with one hand, but I have to hold it like — You know on the hill," she exclaimed, "You're going up and down, and you're doing that all around-- and I'm petrified of a rollercoaster."
Barksdale, and a lot of us, are demanding action.
"It's really dangerous, It's been like that for a year, over a year," Barksdale said. "I'm sick and tired of it, and I know everybody else is."
Anyone with vehicles damaged from the interstate can contact their insurance department at this link.
If any roads around Central Georgia are driving you crazy, email us at news@13wmaz.com to send a tip.