MACON, Ga. — Maybe your Christmas wishes include an end to the work at Macon's I-75-I-16 interchange.
Well, Santa says that's not happening this year or next, but the state is giving the gift of some new traffic lanes this weekend.
For many, their drive is about to change again as the I-16/1-75 roadwork approaches year eight.
"There's a lot of accidents on the current road right now, and pretty much, I've been looking over just seeing how it's structured, so it should be a good cause for everybody as far as traveling safely,” Perry native Rodney Tyson explained.
Tyson commutes from Perry daily to work in Macon.
He says he's familiar with roadwork, and for that reason, the highway's constant changes don't bother him.
"To me, it’s a process, simply because by me living in Perry near Warner Robins, they did 96 and that took years, so it’s something you get used to,” he said.
For others with less patience, the state transportation department's communication officer Gina Snider says it’s been a while, but the more than $500 million roadwork happens in phases. Now that this phase is complete, traffic will move to newly-constructed lanes with those moving northbound permanently
"It’s after you get to the 1-16 when you're exiting there, it’s going to change to one lane, but then after the Hardeman Avenue exit, it’s going to change to two lanes," Snider explained.
Snider says there's so much to be considered when "mega-projects" like these happen, but in the end, she believes it is necessary.
"I think it'll be worth it because we do have a lot of freight that comes up through the coast through that area, and with that area of Macon growing like it is, I think it’s well worth it,” she said.
Snider says you can expect to see changes to begin Sunday at 9 p.m. and end Monday around 5 a.m.
She also says work on the southbound shift will begin after the holidays.