Augusta, GA

Augusta downtown construction accelerates with 2026 completion target

Published

1 week ago

February 15, 2026

Augusta downtown construction accelerates with 2026 completion target

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Downtown construction will speed up by more than a year, with the city aiming to finish the Broad Street remodel by the end of 2026.

With just two months until tournament week, uncertainty remains about how accessible Augusta will be.

Mixed reactions from business owners

As construction creeps down Broad Street, opinions are mixed with a busy spring season around the corner.

“The way it’s growing will be good for restaurants and bars and the new convention center,” said Greig McCully, owner of Fireside Grills. “I’m just not convinced that we can make it through that growth.”

Here’s a look at Augusta city leaders’ vision for James Brown Linear Park down the middle of Broad Street.

Emma Claire Hansen, design and sales at Merry’s Home Furnishings, said she hopes more work will be completed before Masters Week.

“Masters Week itself, we’re hoping that a lot more is done so that people can enjoy the beauty of downtown Augusta, the restaurants and just visit our city and have a good impression of it,” Hansen said.

McCully said businesses were not properly notified about the construction timeline.

“When this became a reality, we found out because they were tearing the street out on the 14th block, not because we were notified,” McCully said. “I’ve been in this space for about 15 years. And I have not seen Augusta in love with its downtown.”

Construction timeline and progress

The contractor is currently targeting a completion date for the downtown section by the end of this calendar year, according to Lauren Hoffman with Paquin PR, which manages public relations for the city during the construction process.

While the city is working toward an accelerated schedule, there are currently utility conflicts and items that need to be resolved before a finalized timeline is released.

Median work between James Brown Boulevard and 13th Street is anticipated to be finished, and median parking will be fully open to the public before the 2026 Masters.

The contractor has mobilized additional crews to the site to maintain momentum and keep the project moving forward efficiently.

Following the Masters, the schedule will shift and the contractor is likely to begin work on the outside lane moving from 13th Street toward 9th Street, alongside median work between 8th and 5th streets.

The contractor is expected to finalize specific dates for this accelerated schedule within the next few days.

Parking relief coming

Two leased parking lots are expected to open Feb. 16 and will be free to use. Lot A is located at 116 James Brown Blvd. Lot B is at 865 Reynolds St.

Business outlook varies

Many businesses are seeing a clearer light at the end of the tunnel.

“I think it invites new businesses to come down, invest in downtown,” Hansen said. “You know, it’s not at its prettiest right here, right now, but it’s coming, and we look forward to the brighter days ahead,” Hansen said.

But for others, those days downtown are numbered. McCully said he has considered moving his business to Columbia County.

“We’d talked for years and thought for years about moving to Columbia County,” McCully said. “You get to know everybody around. It’s got an old town feel. I love all those things. They’re just not necessarily right for my business anymore.”

The city of Augusta released a Broad Street Improvement Project Q&A with the design team

What is the overall vision for the Broad Street Improvement Project?

We are creating a vibrant, world-class destination that celebrates Augusta’s soul. This isn’t just a road project; it is a catalyst designed to bring a fresh energy downtown where people will want to linger, explore, and fall in love with Broad Street all over again.

How will the James Brown Linear Park serve as the centerpiece of this transformation?

Imagine a park that breathes with music. We have designed a spectacular central plaza featuring interactive water and fog jets that “dance” in sync with James Brown’s greatest hits and color-changing lights.

In a beautiful tribute to the “man of the people,” the James Brown sculpture is returning on a stunning new stage. Following feedback from the Brown family, the stage includes a ramp to ensure the sculpture is accessible to everyone.

What specific design details highlight the musical theme of the park?

The artistry is everywhere. You will walk under shade structures featuring iconic album covers and “I Feel Good” sheet music that casts musical shadows on the ground. The very pavement beneath your feet tells a story, with “sound wave” patterns and an engraved timeline of 20 legendary hits. Even the benches are shaped like guitar picks, and the planters are modeled after Grammy Award bases, engraved with the awards won by James Brown.

How does the streetscape design improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians?

We are introducing state-of-the-art bicycle lanes. These are elevated 6” to be flush with the top adjacent pedestrian use areas and tucked safely behind the parking rows, meaning cyclists are protected from moving traffic. Additionally, by narrowing the lanes to a sleek 11 feet, we are naturally calming traffic, making the entire corridor feel much safer and more relaxed for families and pedestrians.

In what ways will the new layout benefit local business owners?

Businesses are getting a massive boost in usable space. We are opening up 13 to 20 feet of wide, beautiful sidewalk area, which is advantageous for restaurants wanting to expand their outdoor dining.

We are also planting a lush new tree canopy. This will create a cool, shaded oasis that makes shopping and dining on Broad Street a comfortable, all-day experience even in the heat of summer.

What upgrades are being made to lighting and safety?

The design includes both roadway lighting and dedicated pedestrian lighting. Tall roadway lights will be located in the median, while pedestrian-scale lights will be installed along the outside borders to illuminate the bicycle tracks and sidewalks. The lighting and trees are placed to create a consistent rhythm along the streetscape, improving visibility and aesthetics at night.

How will the new landscaping compare to the previous trees on Broad Street?

We have carefully selected urban tree species that are built to thrive, with the landscaping designed to provide a thick, cooling canopy that will grow more beautiful with every passing year.

The Broad Street Improvement Project is about more than just infrastructure, it’s about investing in the heart of Augusta. By combining the legendary legacy of James Brown with modern, safe, and accessible spaces, we are building a downtown that works for everyone. We look forward to seeing you downtown to experience this transformation firsthand. Thank you for being part of this journey as we build a better Broad Street together.

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Augusta, GA

Crews make progress in Downtown Augusta construction project

Published

9 hours ago

February 25, 2026

Press Room

Crews make progress in Downtown Augusta construction project

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Construction has continued across downtown Augusta, with the new Augusta Arena rising on schedule and on budget, the former Ramada Hotel under development under a new name, and roadwork on the 500 block of Broad Street set to begin next week.

Crews are currently building a crane to haul steel and begin work on the arena’s steel skeleton. The former Ramada Hotel, which had been vacant, is now under construction and has announced its new name: The Conroy.

Augusta burn center opens new cafeteria as part of $4.5M renovation

Orange construction barrels and cones along Broad Street have marked the area for some time. Steven Fishman, owner of Sidney’s — a business that has operated on Broad Street since 1894 — said he has watched the corridor change over the decades.

“I watched Broad Street expand. I watched Broad Street in 1960s, 1950s. It was jumping. Everything was happening,” Fishman said.

Some businesses have felt the impact of the ongoing construction. One source noted that businesses “can’t get foot traffic, and they can’t get parking,” adding that “there’s a lot of empty buildings on Broad Street.”

Dylan Pope, area manager for Sole and Fifth and Fire, said the disruption is part of a larger process.

“I think we’ve been wanting change for downtown and change comes with a process at the same time,” Pope said.

Pope said the construction represents a shift in what downtown Augusta could become.

“I think we’re making this more of a destination strip. You know, we’re making it to where people are going to come downtown and stay downtown,” Pope said.

He added that the work will benefit the area long-term.

“It’s going to lay the foundation for the future that I believe that a lot of us do want for downtown, which is putting money back into downtown and actually putting the right foot forward for downtown,” Pope said.

The original construction timeline projected the work could take up to 36 months, which would place the completion date in late next month. Empty buildings along the block are also being refreshed as part of the broader development activity.

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Augusta, GA

Cops converge on Augusta gas station to capture suspect

Published

21 hours ago

February 24, 2026

Press Room

Cops converge on Augusta gas station to capture suspect

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Deputies with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office converged on a gas station at one of Augusta’s busiest intersections Tuesday.

It happened around 12:45 p.m. at the BP station at Stevens Creek and Washington roads.

At the scene, there was a large police presence, with several officers wearing vests with the label “U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.”

Authorities said they were there looking for a suspect, but they didn’t offer details.

Officials have not released what the person is wanted for.

Law enforcement officers are familiar with the gas station.

In November, deputies responded to a possible robbery at another BP, and then pursued a man who ran but wasn’t a suspect. During the chase, he pulled a gun, and deputies shot him. The man, Dalyn Elder, 20, of Augusta, later died.

In August 2021, a stray bullet from a shooting at another nearby gas station injured a person who was in the parking lot at the BP.

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Augusta, GA

Board votes on plans to close, consolidate Augusta schools

Published

1 day ago

February 24, 2026

Press Room

Board votes on plans to close, consolidate Augusta schools

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Board of Education voted unanimously to approve a master plan to close and consolidate several schools in the district, including converting Josey High School.

Nine of the board’s 10 members were present, and the plan required a majority vote to pass.

The unanimous vote came Monday night as part of a master plan to close several schools in the district.

Among the other plans the board voted on:

New elementary school construction on Barton Chapel Elementary site and consolidation with Glenn Hills Elementary School: Barton Chapel Elementary School will temporarily close following the 2025-2026 school year for demolition and the construction of a new facility on its current site. The new school will be subject to a naming committee. During construction, most Barton Chapel Elementary School students will be combined with Glenn Hills Elementary School, with the addition of 10 portable classrooms. At the conclusion of construction, both elementary schools will transfer to the new school building, and Glenn Hills Elementary School will permanently close. Unanimously approved 9-0.
Closure of Jenkins-White Elementary School: Jenkins-White Elementary School will close at the end of the 2025-2026 school year, with the facility to be repurposed for future district needs. Students will be rezoned to new elementary schools in the district. Unanimously approved 9-0.
Closure of John M. Tutt Middle School: The board approved the closure of Tutt Middle School at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. Tutt Middle School and Langford Middle School will consolidate into the new Langford-Tutt Middle School facility, scheduled to open for the 2026-2027 school year. Unanimously approved 9-0.
Closure of Murphey Middle School for new College and Career Academy: The T.W. Josey Comprehensive High School and Murphey Middle School campuses will be renovated and converted into a district-wide, comprehensive high school featuring premier career, technical and agricultural education programming serving grades 9-12. At the close of the 2025-2026 school year, Murphey Middle School will close, and students will be rezoned to new middle schools. Approved 8-1.
Boundary Adjustments: The Board approved student reassignments for all approved closures and consolidations proposed in the 2026 long-range facilities master plan.

Timeline

Josey will temporarily close during construction. At the conclusion of construction, currently projected for fall 2029, the T.W. Josey attendance zone will be dissolved. All rising ninth- through twelfth-grade students in the Richmond County School System may apply to attend the new school.

All facility changes will take effect at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Community and board reaction

The board held three public listening sessions over the past month before the vote. No public comment was taken at the meeting.

Josey alumni attended to hear the outcome of the vote. Irvin White, a Josey alumni who played defensive end on the school’s first football team, brought a 1966 school newspaper and yearbook to the meeting.

“Career Academy is fine, but if they just keep Josey’s name alive. That’s what a lot of us keep fighting for, to keep Josey’s name alive,” White said.

During prior public input meetings, community members raised concerns about preserving Josey’s legacy. Some said converting the school into a career academy would eliminate traditional high school programming.

“It’s about a community. It’s about the ecosystem that was created from that. And college and career academies don’t have traditional high school programming at all. So it will be lost,” one person said.

Others spoke to Josey’s historical significance in the district.

“It was devised during a time when people who looked like me couldn’t go to various high schools across the city. So in that vein, when it started, it was helpful to Black students. As the school continued to grow, it became a haven for all students who were disadvantaged in some way, shape or form,” another person said.

Haley LaCuesta, director of media and public relations, said the board responded to community input gathered during the listening sessions.

“At the first public hearing, they received a lot of feedback, a lot of questions and concerns. And what happened was they listened, and they made adjustments to that plan,” LaCuesta said.

Board member Shontae Boyd acknowledged a trust gap between the board and the community.

“The community does not trust us. But I promise we will do what we say we are going to do,” Boyd said.

RCBOE President Shawnda Stovall said the board made adjustments based on public input.

“We are happy that after the public hearings and listening to the community in reference to how they felt about right-sizing, we were able to make some slight pivots in the plan,” Stovall said. “Overall, this plan is moving forward, and we are excited about the school system that we have in place today — but we are even more excited about the school system of the future.”