Augusta, GA
Augusta city leaders discuss downtown parking project changes
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta leaders discussed adding changes to the TIA Projects that spread across downtown on Thursday.
John Ussery of the Traffic Engineering Division presented a plan that would add a night shift for construction workers downtown. Right now, they only work a day shift.
Ussery said this could potentially shave a year off of the completion date, which is currently sometime in 2028, but would add $13 million to the project cost.
Commissioners did not decide on the change on Thursday, moving the item to July 8.
Director of Engineering Hameed Malik recommended moving forward with the plan.
The project is already causing headaches for business owners as traffic cones and equipment have piled up.
“If you go down to 13th Street, beyond 13th, down to St. Sebastian, all the way to 15th, how long has that been tore up,” said Marty Koger, owner of Tip Top Taps. “Is that the way it’s going to look up here too?”
“They don’t realize how much they are affecting people who live and walk down here, how much they’re affecting our lives, our income, our living,” said Michelle Tiedeman, Halo Salon and Spa Master cosmetologist.
Koger disagrees with moving parking to different streets.
“If you ask me what they should be doing is moving the traffic to Greene and to Reynolds. Use Greene to go east and Reynolds to go west. That will take a tremendous burden off the traffic here on Broad Street, and then you can make it a pedestrian-friendly culture, which is what we need,” said Koger.
Tiedeman thinks the city doesn’t realize how they are affecting people with the project.
“It seems small for them, but it’s big for us,” said Tiedeman.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Fire Department responded to a fire on the 200 block of Boy Scout Road Sunday afternoon, officials say.
Officials on the scene said they are no reported injuries and that there were six buildings impacted by the fire.
According to our crews, the buildings look to be a part of the Ventana Townhomes.
Richmond County Sheriff’s Office shut down portions of Boy Scout Road between Skinner Mill Road and Commons Boulevard while crews battled the fire.
Dispatchers said they started receiving calls about the fire around 2:34 p.m.
We are working to learn the cause.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An inmate from the Charles B. Webster Detention Center died Sunday afternoon after being transported to Piedmont Hospital by EMS, officials told us.
On Sunday, July 5, 2026, at approximately 1:52 p.m., deputy jailers at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center responded to an inmate who was found unresponsive inside a cell.
The Coroner’s Office said it responded to Piedmont hospital, and the inmate was pronounced dead at 2:36 p.m.
An autopsy has been scheduled.
The Coroner’s Office said the inmate’s identity will be released after the family is notified.
We also don’t know the cause of death yet. It’s unknown what medical issue led to the transport.
Members of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division responded to the detention center. In accordance with protocol, the scene was secured, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested to conduct an independent investigation.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An 86-year-old Augusta woman died after a two-vehicle crash Saturday night at the intersection of Walton Way and 7th Street.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the crash around 9:50 p.m.
A preliminary investigation found a vehicle traveling west on Walton Way attempted to turn left onto 7th Street and entered the path of an eastbound vehicle traveling through the intersection. The two vehicles collided.
The Richmond County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Carolyn Fletcher, 86, of Augusta. Fletcher was a passenger in the eastbound vehicle and was taken by EMS to Wellstar MCG Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 10:41 p.m.
An autopsy has been scheduled.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Division is continuing to investigate the crash.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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