I-85 Welcome Center in Lavonia to Close for Renovations

Beginning next week, the Georgia Welcome Center on I-85 in Lavonia will getting a much-needed facelift.

That means the Welcome Center will be closed while repairs and upgrades are taking place.  The Georgia Department of Transportation is working with the Georgia Department of Economic Development to make the improvements.

GDOT spokesperson Teri Pope says signs have already gone up warning visitors about the scheduled closing.

“The Welcome Center will be closed from July 20 to September 13,” Pope said. “The Welcome Center will be completely closed. Visitors will not be able to access the driveways, the parking lots, or the bathrooms.”

According to Pope, GDOT plans to do a complete renovation, including making upgrades to the infrastructure.

“We will be making the Welcome Center, well, more welcoming,” Pope said. “We will be replacing most major systems in the building; from the roof to the parking lot and down to the water lines, improvements will be made. New HVAC, new drywall and painting are all part of the renovations. The Welcome Center will also become more environmentally responsible with low flow, automatic flush valve toilets, LED lighting inside and outside.”

Additionally, Pope said the new inside lights will have occupancy sensors so the lights will turn off automatically.

The 16,640 square foot Welcome Center opened in 1996.  Prime Contractors of Powder Springs will be doing the work for $720,000.