After decades of discussion, the Summerville bypass is taking a visible step forward as demolition begins and early work gets underway.

The bypass will run along the southwest side of Summerville, starting west of the Chattooga River crossing and reconnecting with SR 48 near Hunt Street. Plans include a bridge over Town Branch, one lane in each direction, roundabouts at SR 1/US 27, SR 114, and SR 100, plus sidewalks and other pedestrian safety improvements.

The project is estimated to cost $45.1 million, including engineering, right of way, construction, and utilities. Full construction is currently scheduled for 2027, but property acquisition and demolition are already in progress.

Crews have now started tearing down homes along Hankins Drive and Hinton Street in preparation for construction. The project is also affecting local businesses, with The Crushed Tomato closed and The Willow Tree expected to close later as work continues.

GDOT says the bypass is needed to improve safety and traffic flow along the busy SR 1/US 27 corridor through downtown Summerville, where congestion is heavy and crash rates exceed the state average.