More Information Coming Soon!
First Date = Date the information was added to this timeline.
Second date = Date the event actually occurred.
2/2/26: January 15, 2026 Brantley County BOC votes to rescind support for the bypass.
12/10/25: July 10, 2023 Ware County Work Session is the first mention I can find of the bypass or Atlas study. Section C. LINK
12/10/25: March 11, 2024 Ware County Work Session, Section F. States the County Manager received a proposal from Atlas to conduct a traffic study which is required to request grants. Stated THE COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED IN PUBLIC HEARINGS. It is stated this would include a “look at a perimeter road and truck traffic. Also stated it (bypass) would be funded by regional TSPLOST. LINK
12/10/25: April 8, 2024 Ware County Work Session. Atlas tells the commissioners the study is required for state and federal funding for road projects. Will include a “Comprehensive transportation plan for $250,000, and a “Detailed south bypass corridor feasibility study for $50,000.” There is mention at this time that neighboring counties would have to be brought on board. LINK
12/10/2024: August 21, 2024 The Blackshear Times reports that Ware County Chairman Elmer Thrift has been charged and booked with a $1,500 bond for “Making Terroristic Threats and Acts.” No booking picture (I wonder why that is). Booked on 8/22/2024. Reportedly against a family member and current Ware County Employee. LINK and LINK
12/10/25. September 9, 2024. Ware County Work Session. Atlas stated the first public hearing was canceled due to Hurricane Debbie. Plans to have it in October (2024). Atlas noted the bypass should be handled “Last after the interior infrastructure.” Claim that a public website was set-up for public comments. LINK
12/10/2025. November 11, 2024 Ware County Work Session. Presentation on the comprehensive transportation Plan in the general meeting room is set up by Atlas. (No detailed information on what this actually was) LINK
12/10/2025. January 6, 2025 Ware County Called Meeting. Atlas claims they are halfway through with the project. “Currently in the third phase which is developing recommendations and alternatives. “ATLAS USES A GRADING SYSTEM OF A-F. ” “WARE COUNTY HAS SEVERAL D’s AND E’s BUT NOT TO MANY F’s. LINK
12/10/2025. April 14, 2025 Ware County Work Session. ATLAS update. Mentioned some statistics and an online survey. Explained the majority of the bypass would be in Ware County. His team is “fine tuning” the plan and will have it “ready to present to the public and seek input from the board.” LINK
12/10/2025. June 9, 2025. Ware county Work Session. Atlas update. Last update before a formal recommendation. Stated an online survey said that citizens want a bypass to help with truck traffic. ATLAS WILL SEND A DRAFT COPY TO GDOT INCLUDING BYPASS FEASIBILITY. LINK
12/10/2025. October 30, 2025. Pierce, Ware, and Brantley host the initial “Tri-County Meeting.” No meeting minutes posted (yet?).
12/10/25: October 30, 2025 “The Map” is last updated. This could be the actual release date of the map. I cannot confirm that, but I can confirm this is when it was last updated. IMAGE
12/10/2025. November 4, 2025, Pierce and Brantley County adopts the resolution to discuss the bypass. Pierce Meeting Minutes Link. Brantley Meeting Minutes and signature page Link. Pierce Signature Page Link
12/10/2025: November 10, 2025. Ware County signs Resolution. LINK.
No meeting minutes posted yet.
12/5/2025: From the best I can tell, and I could possibly be wrong, but based on conversations I’ve had with elected officials, I don’t think I am… At some point between October 30, and November 23, (That’s as early as I can find it on my FB feed) THE MAP was released of the current projected path of the bypass. Based on statements in the December 1st tri-county meeting, this map was not intentionally released. I talked to an individual at the December 1 meeting who claims he is the one responsible for releasing the map, and did so unintentionally and without specific permission to do so.
12/10/2025. November 25, 2025. Link to my “Letter to the Editor” in the Blackshear Times about the proposed bypass. LINK
Of note, I was made aware of his bypass on November 22, 2025 when the “Map” was sent to me, and then I saw an article in the Blackshear Times about the upcoming Tri-County meeting.
My First Ever Post about the Bypass was also on this date: LINK
12/5/2025: December 1, 2025 the second Tri-County meeting to discuss the bypass. all state elected representatives and GDOT participated in the meeting. The public outcry against the bypass took over the entire meeting. LINK to my account of the meeting.
No official meeting minutes have been released.
12/10/2025: December 2, 2025. Pierce County Commissioners Meeting. Commissioners shut me down without answering a single question. They made it clear they do not want to discuss the bypass and that it will be put to a vote. LINK to Post and Video of the meeting
No official Meeting Minutes have been released
12/10/2025: December 3, 2025. Due to Pierce County Commissioners not being willing to listen to my concerns about the Bypass, or answer any of my questions, I reached out to “First Coast News” and did an on-camera interview. It is noted that Chairman Thrift was offered to do an on-camera interview for the proponents of the bypass, and declined. LINK
Written article LINK
The www.stopthebypass.info website is purchased and made active.
12/10/2025: December 7, 2025. I made the following post on Facebook with questions that Ware County Residents should ask their commissioners on record during the upcoming Commissioners Meeting. LINK
I also posted the map of property owned by the Ware County Chairman and his family, overlayed with the projected route. IMAGE
12/10/2025. On December 7, 2025, Ware County Commissioner Jon Tindall made the following post on Facebook: LINK
12/10/2025. On December 9, 2025, I made the following reply to Commissioner Tindall’s post: LINK
12/10/2025. December 8, 2025. Ware County Commissioners Meeting. Update given earlier in the day and reiterated that Representative James Burchett is working on the resolution to be added to the May ballot. No additional information about the bypass was provided. When I specifically asked if the commissioners were going to hold any public hearing or question/answer sessions prior to the community voting on this issue, “No” was the response. Commissioner Tindall stated he would be willing to respond to questions from concerned citizens if they reached out to him. LINK TO VIDEO OF THE VOTE DISCUSSION
No meeting minutes available yet
12/10/2025. On December 10, 2025. A Tri-County commissioners meeting was cancelled. To my knowledge, this was never publicized. It certainly wasn’t discussed in the last tri-county meeting or posted on any of the 3 counties’ websites. I have no idea where this meeting came from, but I’m glad it was cancelled.
2/2/26: January 6, 2026 Pierce County BOC meeting. I discussed the bypass and asked numerous questions regarding the bypass. LINK TO LIVESTREAM.
2/2/2026: January 22, 2026 Pierce County BOC votes in a called meeting to rescind support for the bybass. Does not plan to hold a referendum on the subject on May 19. LINK TO ARTICLE
2/2/26: January 28, 2026 Representative James Burchett announces that Waycross and Brantley Counties plan to move forward with a referendum vote on May 19, 2026. LINK TO POST ON FACEBOOK.
Information to still verify:
When did the proposed route get released online (I know WHO released it, and they admitted to me at the December 1 meeting it was accidental, or at least without actual approval) but WHEN and WHERE was this initially released?
Add a direct link to the traffic study once Ware County Commissioners release it.
As I go, I’ll try to include information on previous bypass attempts from years past. 2013 I know is one, and then around 2005 or so is another. If you have this information, feel free to send it to me!