US 23 is two lanes from Eastman to the community of Empire, then five lanes with a center turning lane to the Cochran by-pass, which is two lanes. In Cochran, US 23 runs concurrently with US 129 Alt. North of Cochran it is undivided four lanes for to the junction with State Route 96 (SR 96) in Tarversville, then two lanes for the next to the junction with I-16 near Macon near old Camp Wheeler. North of I-16, US 23, known as Ocmulgee East Boulevard, turns on Emery Highway then turns onto Spring Street before crossing [[Unterstate I-75 and the Ocmulgee River. After the river, US 23 turns onto Riverside Drive and then parallels the Ocmulgee River and I-75, US 41, US 80 and leaves US 129 Alt. US 23 then crosses I-75 again and continues to Jackson.