Consultants say truck and rail congestion drive need for bypass; study shows most bypass would be in Ware County

Chris Kingsbury of Atlas Technical Consultants summarized the county’s Comprehensive Transportation Study, telling the commission that online feedback showed "eighty percent (80%) of all citizens are most concerned [about] truck and rail congestion as well as the length of trains." He said U.S. 15/8 carries heavy truck traffic despite not being designed for that use and noted that Georgia Department of Transportation inspects bridges; Ware County has eight posted bridges, and closure of any could force costly rerouting.

"Waycross is the most convenient route for big truck companies traveling from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast," Kingsbury said, and he described the proposed bypass footprint as mostly inside Ware County. Commissioners asked whether a bypass was necessary; Commissioner Leonard Burse asked directly and Kingsbury replied there is no question given the current congestion and projected growth from Gulf Coast traffic. Chairman Elmer Thrift said the county will need help from GDOT and neighboring counties including Pierce and Brantley.

Kingsbury said a preliminary finding on an eastbound truck route (US 84 to US 82) found nine percent of truck trips in the bypass study area and noted that truck traffic during Atlanta rush hour was about 14 percent. He encouraged residents who had not completed the county or city online survey to do so.

Why it matters: Commissioners were given a planning-level picture that links local road design limits, freight flows, and bridge vulnerability to broader regional freight movements. The study frames decisions that could require multi‑jurisdictional funding and GDOT coordination.

What’s next: Kingsbury said his team would fine‑tune the plan and expected to deliver final results to the commission in about two months; the commission broadly signaled the need for regional partners during next steps.