RINCON, Ga. — Speed limits along State Route 21 through Rincon are expected to drop from 45 mph to 35 mph by early 2026, following a traffic study that found slower speeds are warranted as the city continues to grow and traffic volumes increase.
The change will apply from city limit to city limit, stretching from the area near Chimney Road north past the YMCA, Rincon Mayor Kevin Exley said. As the city continues to annex property, the reduced speed zone could eventually extend farther toward Ebenezer Road.
The Georgia Department of Transportation must install new signage before the change officially takes effect, which Exley expects will occur in the first quarter of 2026.
Exley said the decision is rooted in safety — not enforcement or revenue.
“This isn’t something the city can just decide on its own,” Exley said. “We had to hire an engineer to conduct a traffic study, and GDOT reviewed that study and agreed that slowing traffic down is necessary based on the growth and congestion we’re seeing.”
Traffic study cites safety concerns
The traffic study, conducted by Savannah engineering firm Kimley-Horn, analyzed vehicle speeds, traffic volume and crash data along the State Route 21 corridor.
According to Exley, the study found that lower speeds would help reduce accidents, particularly near high-traffic intersections such as Veterans Park, Chick-fil-A, Walmart and Fourth Street.
Rincon Councilwoman Mona Underwood said the Route 21 study was just one piece of a broader, yearlong review of traffic and safety issues across the city.
“Council and staff spent more than a year reviewing traffic studies and discussing these issues before reaching this decision,” Underwood said. “Accidents are a major cause of traffic congestion, which frustrates everyone. Fewer accidents lead to better traffic flow and, most importantly, safer conditions for pedestrians.”
Underwood noted that Fort Howard Road will also see its speed limit reduced to 35 mph, citing significant pedestrian activity and school-related traffic in that area. As part of the safety improvements, the city is adding new crosswalks along Fort Howard Road.
“Safety was the primary concern,” Underwood said. “That road sees a lot of foot traffic, and slowing vehicles down makes a real difference.”
Exley said traffic speeds through the city often exceed posted limits, particularly along State Route 21.
“When people see a 45-mile-per-hour sign, they’re really running 50 or 55,” he said. “You think about how hard it is to stop through all that congestion at those speeds, and it becomes dangerous.”
To prepare drivers for the change, the city plans to install electronic message boards at both ends of town announcing the reduced speed limit before enforcement begins. The change will be permanent.
City officials also expect the slower speed limit to reduce truck traffic passing through Rincon. Police will begin enforcing an existing ordinance requiring large trucks to remain in the right lane while traveling through the city.
“If you’re making a delivery here, that’s fine,” Exley said. “But trucks need to stay in the right lane. We’re going to start enforcing that.”
Exley said Rincon Police Chief Jonathan Murrell supports the speed reduction and emphasized that Rincon police issue more warnings than citations.
“At our State of the City, we showed that warnings were more than double the number of tickets issued,” Exley said. “This isn’t about writing tickets — it’s about slowing traffic and preventing serious crashes.”
Exley also addressed concerns that the change is intended to generate revenue. He said only a portion of traffic citation revenue returns to the city after court costs and state fees are paid.
State Route 21 expansion
Meanwhile, State Route 21 is slated for a major expansion project led by GDOT. The project would widen the corridor to six lanes between State Route 30 and McCall Road, significantly increasing capacity.
“This project is designed to expand the corridor from State Route 30 to McCall Road, which will help manage the current and projected increase in traffic due to the area’s growth,” said Jill Nagel, GDOT District 5 communications manager. “The increased capacity on State Route 21 will improve traffic flow and enhance the safety of both commuters and commercial vehicles.”
GDOT approved the project’s design plans in 2025. Construction is currently projected to be completed by 2030, with an estimated cost of approximately $68 million. Nagel said public input will be part of the process.
“Once we have a completed concept report, a public outreach meeting will be planned to get citizens’ input on the proposed project,” she said.
While State Route 21 will remain a state-controlled corridor, Rincon officials are also pursuing a long-term vision to create a walkable downtown district along Fort Howard Road. The city has placed a temporary moratorium on new development along State Route 21 while officials work with residents to shape future growth.
“Our goal is to slow things down and create a hometown feel,” Exley said. “We don’t want to be just a drive-through city.”
