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Columbus Infrastructure Portfolio Moves Forward as Funding Calls and Policy Updates Shape Next Steps
With $1.2 billion in active projects underway, Columbus officials face decisions on project applications and design guidelines that will determine the pace of remaining work.
How we reported this
Columbus Consolidated Government is overseeing $1.2 billion in active infrastructure initiatives that include transportation upgrades and the $207.5 million Columbus Judicial Center. The portfolio draws from the newly approved $665 million regional TSPLOST that voters passed to fund 46 specific projects across the area.
The timing matters because several major contracts are advancing while new application deadlines and policy changes require immediate public input. The Columbus-Phenix City Metropolitan Planning Organization extended the Transportation Alternatives Program Call for Projects deadline to March 27, 2026, and is accepting comments on proposed work documents that will guide the next round of selections.
Named projects and current status
Work is already visible on multiple corridors. The $47.7 million I-185/Buena Vista Road interchange stands at 75 percent complete with a spring 2026 target. The $58 million I-185/Cusseta Road interchange is 67 percent complete. The $13.5 million flood abatement project on Veterans Parkway is under construction for an April 2026 finish, while the $5 million Williams Road/Fortson Road roundabout is listed for completion next month in one set of records. Spiderweb Phase II, budgeted at $45.8 million, is 22 percent complete and scheduled to finish in 2027 after a 24-month intersection closure.
Additional TSPLOST allocations include $25 million for Columbus Airport terminal expansion, $12.5 million for Riverwalk repaving, and $22.5 million for Steam Mill Road improvements. A separate $3.12 million appropriation supports the South Columbus Water Resources facility upgrade under the Georgia Stormwater Management Act.
Decisions that will determine pace
The Columbus Consolidated Government Council recently adopted amendments to its Complete Streets Policy that establish specific engineering design guidelines and create a public committee to review roadway plans. The committee is tasked with providing status updates on safety and accessibility metrics for upcoming work on 8th Street, Buena Vista Road, Morris Road, and Columbus Airport corridors. The region's Transportation Improvement Program must be updated at least every four years and approved by the C-PCMPO, which coordinates activities under federal performance goals.
Next steps hinge on public comments now being collected for the Transportation Alternatives Program documents and on how the new Complete Streets committee applies the adopted guidelines to project designs. Funding sources listed for these efforts include TSPLOST 2022, LOST 2021, Stormwater and Paving Funds, GDOT contributions, and Columbus Building Authority bonds. Residents can review the open call materials through the C-PCMPO process to see which additional projects may advance.