Welcome Center Renovations Delayed

The Georgia Welcome Center on Interstate 85 south in Lavonia is not welcoming and remains closed.

The Welcome Center closed in mid-July and was expected to be re-opened by mid- September, but that deadline has come and gone.

On Wednesday, GDOT District Engineer for Hart County Brent Cook announced the Welcome Center will likely not be open until the end of November.

“Major plumbing issues found after work started required the installation of a new water line into the building,” Cook said. “Improvements are being made from the roof to the parking lot and down to the water lines, improvements. 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. The new inside lights will have occupancy sensors so the lights will turn off automatically.”

So until the renovation is completed, visitors coming into Georgia from South Carolina will need to get off at exit 177 or continue on to exit 173 in Lavonia on I-85 if they want to stop for food or to rest.

The Welcome Center will reopen by Thanksgiving.

The 16,640 square foot Welcome Center opened in 1996.