200-mile loop highway proposed for Chattanooga

[afone]

If this does come to fruition, do you think it will carry an interstate designation? Perhaps Interstate 875. Also, would plans for a Chattanooga loop cause GDOT to look are reviving the Northern Arc or even the entire Outer Perimeter for Metro Atlanta.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2014/jun/11/chattanooga-bypasshighway-encircling-metro-area/

[froggie]

I doubt it'll come to fruition for the simple fact that everybody (especially politicians) wants big fancy transportation projects but nobody wants to pay for them...

[oscar]

It's a "concept", penciled into a 40-year plan (i.e., not going to happen, if ever, in many of our lifetimes), and might not even be a freeway.  Waaaaay too early to even think about an Interstate number. 

[hbelkins]

Probably a race between which one gets built first: this, the proposed I-475 west of Knoxville, or the northern loop of TN 840.

[bugo]

It can be an extension of I-59.  Why not?

[US 41]

Does Chattanooga really need a bypass?

[Revive 755]

It can be an extension of I-59.  Why not?

Given the terrain and development in the area, I would not be surprised if the facility, if completely built, would end up being more of a disjointed loop than a continuous loop - similar to how the bypass/outer loop for Richmond, Virgina is composed of separate sections of I-295, VA 288, and VA 895, with a couple connections requiring use of I-95 and I-64, rather than a more continuous facility like I-495 around DC.

Going into fictional territory:  Assuming the whole facility is built in some fashion to interstate standards, I would number it the following way:

* The south half between I-24 and I-75 would be a reroute of I-24, with existing I-24 becoming an extension of I-59.  If the hidden I-124 becomes signed again, it would become I-159.

* The east half (the section east of current I-75) would become a reroute of I-75.  Existing I-75 south of I-24 would become I-875 (only even I-x75 left in Georgia), and existing I-75 from north of I-24 to the bypass would become another extension of I-59.

* The northern half would become I-224.  If this section was not constructed to interstate standards, it would make a nice reroute or bannered route for US 64.

[emory]

If this does come to fruition, do you think it will carry an interstate designation? Perhaps Interstate 875. Also, would plans for a Chattanooga loop cause GDOT to look are reviving the Northern Arc or even the entire Outer Perimeter for Metro Atlanta.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2014/jun/11/chattanooga-bypasshighway-encircling-metro-area/

A 200 mile 3di would be the longest in the country by far.

[Tom958]

Does Chattanooga really need a bypass?

Well, the I-75 bypass portion was recommended prominently in the Georgia Statewide Freight and Logistics Plan, 2010-2050p:

Highway — Bypass I-75 "Bypass"  north Georgia & metro Chattanooga, TN.

2.94  High B/C ratio.

Proposal initiated in Tennessee transportation plans. No solid commitment to pursue in Tennessee.

The part from I-59/24 to I-75 would provide a nice shortcut for ATL-Nashville traffic and divert some traffic from I-24 in Chattanooga, which was pretty congested at rush hours the last time I was through there regularly. There are inherent safety issues with I-24 from US 27 to I-75, too. But a bypass would require a major tunnel through Lookout Mountain.

To me, it doesn't seem sensible to build a bypass there until I-24 east of 59 has been six laned. I'm amazed that that hasn't happened yet.

IMO, the bypass idea would be more compelling if Georgia had built GA 2 Battlefield Parkway as a freeway. EDIT: I'll add that it may be that Georgia decided way back in the '70's that they didn't have the money for such a thing, and never would.

[xcellntbuy]

I am often an advocate for new roads but, the beauty of northern Georgia and southeastern Tennessee should be well taken into consideration before something stupid is ever considered.

[WashuOtaku]

Don't see it happening.  Remember, SR 840 was suppose to be a complete loop around Nashville and that hasn't by no means bee completed.  The Chattanooga route appears to be in the same vain attempt to make an uber large loop with no real possibility to be completed.  The biggest issue blocking this "pie in the sky" project is the fact it falls in two states; I especially don't see Georgia moving much ground for a city in Tennessee.

[hbelkins]

Tennessee gives Georgia water; Georgia builds Tennessee's Chattanooga bypass.

(Or is the water dispute with Alabama? I forget which state is involved.)

[Arkansastravelguy]

An 875 bypass from Dalton to Cleveland would certainly be helpful. Also noted 77% think the bypass is needed


iPhone

[WashuOtaku]

Tennessee gives Georgia water; Georgia builds Tennessee's Chattanooga bypass.

(Or is the water dispute with Alabama? I forget which state is involved.)

You're right, it's between Tennessee and Georgia.  But Georgia wants to take land from Tennessee to get untethered access to the Tennessee River, something Tennessee will not agree upon.

[adventurernumber1]

An 875 bypass from Dalton to Cleveland would certainly be helpful. Also noted 77% think the bypass is needed


iPhone

Heh. I was thinking that exact same thing in my head this morning after looking at this thread. In my head I thought of the possibilities of the loop not working out, then started brainstorming about a possible bypass for I-75 traffic going through Chattanooga. And I had the exact same numbering idea; I-875, since 475 & 675 are taken in GA and 275 is taken in TN. I had the idea of I-875 splitting off of I-75 in GA just before Exit 341 (GA SR 201; Tunnel Hill, Varnell), then having an exit at SR 201, then continuing Northbound to have an exit at SR 2 in between Ringgold & Varnell, then having an exit at Mount Vernon Road west of Cohutta, then passing the Tennessee line entering Tennessee, then having an exit at Apison Pike just east of Apison, then having an exit at Tallent Road, then having an exit at US 11/US 64/TN SR 2 in McDonald, then finally merging onto I-75 just before Exit 20 (US 74; Cleveland).

[codyg1985]

I think the southern and eastern segments could be justified. The southern segment could facilitate the I-24 East to I-75 South movement, since it gets a lot of regional and truck traffic from Nashville and points north and west to Atlanta and points south and east. Unfortunately, going over or through Lookout Mountain would be incredibly expensive. After crossing Lookout Mountain, it could roughly follow GA 2 to I-75.

I could also see the eastern segment working well for through I-75 traffic. IMO, the northern segment isn't needed. This one could roughly follow the Norfolk Southern Railway cutoff line between Dalton and Cleveland that bypasses Chattanooga.

If either of them are built, I would expect them to be built as toll roads, especially the southern segment.

[tidecat]

If the eastern segment is built as an interstate, you wonder if Georgia and Tennessee would have I-75 moved onto it.  The control city on I-75 could still be Chattanooga pretty much all the way up to each end of the bypass, and it would take thru traffic out of the city.

[bugo]

If the eastern segment is built as an interstate, you wonder if Georgia and Tennessee would have I-75 moved onto it.  The control city on I-75 could still be Chattanooga pretty much all the way up to each end of the bypass, and it would take thru traffic out of the city.

Not going to happen.

[froggie]

If the eastern segment gets built, and I'd call that a very big *IF*, I'd expect it to be signed as I-875.

[codyg1985]

I could see the eastern segment being built before the southern segment.

[Grzrd]

I could see the eastern segment being built before the southern segment.

GDOT recently took a high-level look at a Chattanooga Bypass in its Georgia Freight and Logistics Plan, 2010-2050 (completed Jan. 2012 and partially updated Dec. 2013), and it only shows the "eastern segment" (page 25/77 of pdf; page 2-15 of document):

[Duke87]

If nothing else the eastern segment is easier from an engineering standpoint. The southern segment would have to contend with Lookout Mountain, probably demanding a tunnel.

[MikeSantNY78]

If this does come to fruition, do you think it will carry an interstate designation? Perhaps Interstate 875. Also, would plans for a Chattanooga loop cause GDOT to look are reviving the Northern Arc or even the entire Outer Perimeter for Metro Atlanta.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2014/jun/11/chattanooga-bypasshighway-encircling-metro-area/

No scale on the map on the article, but 200 miles is a generous estimate.  The eastern leg seems feasible as a re-route of I-75; any re-designation or extension of anything within the loop/bypass would extend in fictional territory, so I won't venture right now...

[US 41]

I could see the eastern segment being built before the southern segment.

GDOT recently took a high-level look at a Chattanooga Bypass in its Georgia Freight and Logistics Plan, 2010-2050 (completed Jan. 2012 and partially updated Dec. 2013), and it only shows the "eastern segment" (page 25/77 of pdf; page 2-15 of document):

The connector south of the proposed western Atlanta bypass probably wouldn't really be needed.

[adventurernumber1]

I could see the eastern segment being built before the southern segment.

GDOT recently took a high-level look at a Chattanooga Bypass in its Georgia Freight and Logistics Plan, 2010-2050 (completed Jan. 2012 and partially updated Dec. 2013), and it only shows the "eastern segment" (page 25/77 of pdf; page 2-15 of document):

The connector south of the proposed western Atlanta bypass probably wouldn't really be needed.

I agree. A Columbus-Macon-Augusta corridor is much more needed than that. If the proposed I-14 is ever built, which will connect those cities, then that dream will be fulfilled.