The final stretch of Thurmon Tanner Parkway won't be finished by Dec. 31 as long projected.

Too much work needs to be done, including paving and installation of traffic lights, said Teri Pope, spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Transportation's Gainesville-based District 1.

"There were revisions to the signal plans and then the revisions needed updates, so the traffic signal work is way behind, and that is not the contractor's fault," Pope said.

Officials with the contractor, Gary's Grading and Pipeline Co. of Monroe, couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.

And now frigid weather, along with recent rains, aren't helping move the project along.

Asked when the project could potentially be completed, Pope said, "I don't have any idea."

The new 1.3-mile road will run between Mundy Mill and Plainview roads, crossing over Oakwood Road.

The stretch is the final piece in an overall road project to build a four-lane road that runs parallel to Interstate 985. When finished, Thurmon Tanner will run from Phil Niekro Boulevard in Flowery Branch to Atlanta Highway at Exit 17 and Interstate 985 near Oakwood.

Traffic lights are planned at Plainview and Oakwood roads. A traffic light is now in place at Mundy Mill Road but is operational only on Mundy Mill and on Thurmon Tanner headed from Atlanta Highway.

The new road is intended to help relieve Interstate 985 but also kick-start commercial and industrial development between Oakwood and Flowery Branch, as well as revive some already developed areas.

Work on the final leg had gotten to the point earlier this year where Oakwood Road, a main connector between Mundy Mill Road and Main Street, was closed for three months.

Also, Oakwood has put a hold on any development plans for Thurmon Tanner Parkway through January so it can put together a corridor design plan.

"We're spending $17 million on this road, between the city, county and state, and we want to make sure we get the proper development ... so we don't end up with metal buildings, flea markets and things like that," City Manager Stan Brown has said.