The Georgia Department of Transportation wants to rebuild the Manchester Expressway interchange at County Line Road in north Columbus. The plan calls for a replacement bridge, a new roundabout at the ramps and a bigger roundabout at Mehaffey Road. GDOT will show the plans at a drop-in open house Thursday, Nov. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Psalmond Road Park Recreation Center in Midland.

GDOT estimates the project at about $14.4 million and is taking public comments through Nov. 20. Here are answers to 10 questions about the project, from GDOT's project page and city records.

1. Where is the project?

The interchange is where County Line Road crosses over Manchester Expressway (U.S. 27 Alternate/Georgia 85), about 12.5 miles northeast of downtown Columbus, GDOT says. The project also includes the nearby County Line Road roundabout at Mehaffey Road. GDOT's project number is PI 0019517.

2. What's wrong with the interchange now?

GDOT lists several problems:

• Each ramp meets County Line Road at a two-way stop sign.
• Sight distance is limited along County Line Road and Mehaffey Road.
• The Mehaffey Road roundabout sits so close to the ramps that the two intersections create conflicts.
• The southbound exit ramp backs up during peak hours.
• The bridge is 15 feet, 9 inches tall, below GDOT's current 17-foot standard.

3. How many crashes have there been?

GDOT counted 20 crashes from 2020 through 2024, including 4 with injuries and 16 with property damage only. The agency says the crash rate is higher than the statewide average for similar roads.

4. What would change?

The plan has three main parts:

• A new bridge. County Line Road would be raised so the replacement bridge clears the expressway by 17 feet.
• A new roundabout west of the bridge. The ramp intersection would become a single-lane, four-way roundabout.
• A bigger roundabout east of the bridge. The Mehaffey Road roundabout would grow into a single-lane roundabout with six legs, taking in the ramps on that side.

GDOT says traffic is expected to stay open throughout construction.

5. Why roundabouts?

GDOT says roundabouts reduce the number of conflict points and angle crashes, which lowers the chance of injury and fatal crashes. After evaluating alternatives, the agency said a roundabout "best addresses" the crash history and traffic problems here.

6. How much will it cost?

GDOT's current estimate:

GDOT notes the cost is an estimate and will be updated as the project moves forward.

A separate city status report dated March 31, 2026, lists the project with a $36.65 million budget under the regional transportation sales tax (TIA). That is a program budget line, not GDOT's current cost estimate.

7. Who's paying for it?

The project is part of the Transportation Investment Act program, the regional 1% transportation sales tax approved by River Valley voters. GDOT lists TIA as the project's office, and the city's report puts it in Band 3 of the second TIA round.

8. When would construction start?

Not soon. GDOT lists right-of-way authorization on July 11, 2028, with construction and utility funding in fiscal 2032. The city's March report estimated a summer 2030 start. Neither date is final.

9. What happens at the open house?

Residents can look at the displays, talk with the project team and submit comments. GDOT says everything shown at the meeting is also posted on its online project page.

10. Can I comment if I can't go?

Yes. Comments are due by Nov. 20, 2026. Search "0019517" on GDOT's Public Outreach page to find the online comment form, or print the comment form there and mail it. GDOT says it will post responses about 30 days after the comment period ends.

Questions worth asking: Will any homes or businesses lose land to right of way? How will school buses and trucks get through a six-leg roundabout? Will there be detours while the bridge is replaced?

How we did this

Columbus Times used GDOT's online project page for PI 0019517, which lists the meeting details, cost estimate, crash data and design, and the Columbus Consolidated Government's March 31, 2026, infrastructure project status report.