County approves intergovernmental agreements to widen Little Neck and resurface John Carter Road; municipalities, GDOT and federal partners to be involved

Chatham County commissioners approved intergovernmental agreements and related items to address congestion and accommodate planned development along Little Neck Road and nearby corridors.

The agreements create cost‑sharing commitments with neighboring cities and a private developer, set a 50/50 cost split on near‑term highway widening, and assign day‑to‑day maintenance and energy costs for a temporary traffic signal to the city of Bloomingdale.

Why it matters: county officials said the corridor between Ogeechee Road and the I‑95 bridge is already experiencing growth and that the combined developments (including planned residential phases such as Hopeton Plantation) require a multi‑jurisdictional plan. County leaders said they are coordinating with the city of Savannah, Bloomingdale, Garden City, Pooler, Port Wentworth, GDOT and federal partners to avoid creating bottlenecks when roadway projects advance.

Key points of the approved agreements and related actions

- Little Neck Road widening (item 7): county and the city of Savannah agreed to cost share on a near‑term four‑laning of Little Neck from Ogeechee Road toward the I‑95 bridge; the city agreed to a 50/50 split on a defined phase covering the stretch in front of a major new development. The agreements include language that, when sufficient funds exist, the project will be extended and jointly cost‑shared from I‑95 to I‑16.

- Bridge and federal coordination: commissioners emphasized the need to coordinate with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and federal authorities to widen bridges that otherwise would create bottlenecks if only the approaches are widened to four lanes.

- John Carter Road resurfacing and temporary signal (items 8–10): the county will resurface John Carter Road as part of its 2024 resurfacing package. Bloomingdale agreed to maintain and pay energy costs for a temporary traffic signal to be installed at John Carter and Little Neck. The county and Bloomingdale will coordinate on resurfacing and cost share portions that fall within unincorporated county limits.

- Municipal agreements and sequencing: staff said Bloomingdale will issue the contract for resurfacing Little Neck Road from Route 16 to the City of Savannah limits and the county will pay its unincorporated share; other municipalities agreed to refund the county for portions of resurfacing inside their corporate limits.

Public concerns and interim maintenance

Several residents and commissioners raised concerns about immediate safety issues — potholes on Bush Road and failing pavement — and asked the county to perform interim repairs while longer‑term agreements and construction are coordinated. Staff said crews can assess and make short‑term repairs but that full reconstruction will require cost‑sharing and design work as coordinated with the city partners.

Votes and next steps

The commission voted to approve the intergovernmental agreements and the action calendar items covering these projects (items 7–10). Staff will proceed with design, permitting and multi‑party coordination, including federal bridge permits where applicable. The county said it expects to return with project schedules and funding information as federal/state partnerships and municipal agreements advance.