Georgia

[Alex]

Heading southbound out of Rome, I saw construction of what appears to be a new interchange along U.S. 27, perhaps for a relocated U.S. 411?



Oddly the current split of U.S. 411 south from U.S. 27 south is only signed with one assembly. I did not notice signage until the turn lane for U.S. 411 was about to depart.

[FLRoads]

From http://www.rockmartjrl.com/printer_friendly/6451537:

"The new bridge is part of the Southwest Rome Bypass construction project. This project includes 5.48 miles of widening and reconstruction on U.S. 27, beginning south of the Coosa River. It also includes the construction of five bridges within its limits.

Work on the Southwest Rome Bypass began early April 2008. The entire project is scheduled to be completed by the end of August 2011, at a construction cost of close to $55 million."

[architect77]

I drove from Atlanta to the NC coast recently on I-20 through Augusta and Columbia and then up I-95 to US74. I'm sorry, but how could any Dept. of Transportation build such a ridiculously ugly interstate as I-20? It's narrow, often lacks a full-width emergency lane shoulder, and those horrible raised rather-than-cantilevered signs are beyond awful. The fake stonework sound walls in Augusta are equally as bad.

South Carolina was an improvement over Georgia, however upon arriving in NC the highways became most impressive, more generously positioned, and with huge steel gantries cantilevering perfect signage. North Carolina knows how to build roads, thats for sure. But at least Georgia has returned to using the big fat font on overhead signage, a welcome sight here on the I-75/85 DT Connector.

[mightyace]

^^^

I drove around North Carolina at the end of May and Georgia around the fourth of July.

I mainly drove I-40 and 77 and they reminded me of northern interstates they were so bad!

Meanwhile, I-75 in Georgia was smooth as glass.

And, having watched cantilevered signs fall here in TN, I'll take Georgia's funky posts any day.

[Grzrd]

I thought following link regarding construction on Georgia's interstates, etc. would be useful for those travelling in Georgia:

http://www.georgia-navigator.com/construction

It provides reports on lane closures, etc. for next 24 hrs, next 72 hrs, this week, and weekend.

[Bryant5493]

^^

The 511 number comes in handy as well. When I travel during rush hour in the Metro Atlanta area, I use it readily; although, the automated system can sometimes be quite deaf. :-)


Be well,

Bryant

[Grzrd]

Here is Georgia part of AASHTO report presented in Little Rock today:

http://expandingcapacity.transportation.org/unlocking_freight/states/GA_Unlocking_Freight_0610.pdf

I must admit that I have never heard of the Jimmy Deloach Connector.

[RoadWarrior56]

I think the reason that GDOT uses the raised versus the cantilevered signs is because of a storm about a decade ago along I-85 in Gwinnett County.  If I remember correctly, a thunderstorm caused a cantilevered sign south of the Jimmy Carter Blvd. exit to fall down onto the pavement.  In reaction to that mishap, the standard was changed from cantilevered to what you see now, and they have been phasing the cantilevered signs out ever since.  Correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure that is the reason.

[2Co5_14]

That sounds reasonable.  I have heard a fellow GDOT employee talk about how much strain those cantilever signs put on the anchor bolts at the base because gravity naturally wants to tip that sign over.  That person said maintenance people were finding loosened anchor bolts in a few locations, so apparently it wasn't just a single incident that caused them to change their sign policy to only install overhead sign bridges or centered supports.

[Alps]

That sounds reasonable.  I have heard a fellow GDOT employee talk about how much strain those cantilever signs put on the anchor bolts at the base because gravity naturally wants to tip that sign over.  That person said maintenance people were finding loosened anchor bolts in a few locations, so apparently it wasn't just a single incident that caused them to change their sign policy to only install overhead sign bridges or centered supports.

I just today read an extensive research paper about that very problem.  Examples were shown from Florida and the conclusion was to use a hollow pipe with rectangular torsion plates instead of anchor bolts, better tying the post into the structural capacity of the concrete.  See, it's not the anchor bolts that failed, it's actually the concrete that failed first due to torsion and shear, thus putting all of the sign weight on the bolts alone, obviously leading to failure in short order.

[architect77]

I think the reason that GDOT uses the raised versus the cantilevered signs is because of a storm about a decade ago along I-85 in Gwinnett County.  If I remember correctly, a thunderstorm caused a cantilevered sign south of the Jimmy Carter Blvd. exit to fall down onto the pavement.  In reaction to that mishap, the standard was changed from cantilevered to what you see now, and they have been phasing the cantilevered signs out ever since.  Correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure that is the reason.

Well, I'm going to put together a formal complaint and send it to GDOT. These strange looking signs don't qualify as overheads and are absurdly too far from all of the travel lanes depending on their information to make necessary lane adjustments. Common sense should tell you that the nation's widest interstates with the most travel lanes require signage legible to most of the lanes. These ridiculous "balanced butterfly" posts are a joke.

On another note, I plan to express my concern for the I-85 HOT LANE signage they're planning on littering Gwinnett County with. They're adding so much confusing signage beside all of the existing signage that no one will be able to process all of the info to safely navigate the highway. Plus they're introducing new terminologies that lanes are either EXPRESS or LOCAL. 1 Express lane and 5 local lanes. Idiotic

[Grzrd]

GDOT has awarded an $11 million contract for a new I-95 interchange approximately seven miles north of Woodbine:

http://romenews-tribune.com/view/full_story/9380681/article-DOT-picks-contractors-for-I-95-widening-in-Camden-Co?instance=home_news_lead_story

"The I-95 interchange is 7 miles north of Woodbine at Horse Stamp Church Road. It's needed to accommodate the recently added third lane in each direction along that section of road.

It will be constructed by Plant Improvement Co., Inc., of Brunswick, and Rogers Bridge Co., Inc., of Atlanta and provide a diamond-configured system of entrance and exit ramps"

[Grzrd]

I have heard that all funding had been recieved and actual construction was well along enough to be done by some time in 2011.

Georgia's 15 year, $1 billion I-95 widening project is almost complete (from Aug. 22, 2010 NPR):

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129302124

"In the next few months, Georgia will be the first state in the Southeast to finish its expansion of I-95. It will accommodate three lanes of traffic in each direction from South Carolina to Florida. Todd Long with the Georgia Department of Transportation says the state has spent over a billion dollars in the last 15 years to widen I-95.

"That's a lot of money," he says. "Even today in 2010, that's almost worth an entire capital program for the entire state, invested in one corridor. I would rate it up there as one of the most important interstates we have in the whole country.""

[Alex]

From the Georgia Road Geek on FB:

Pounding out Phase 5 of Truman Parkway

Two down, approximately 950 to go.

Six months into a three-year project to complete the final phase of the Truman Parkway, a steady, ground-shaking pounding reverberates from the work site near Whitefield Avenue and Truman Parkway as the first pilings are driven into place.

A swath of trees has been cleared, and the first packed, earthen foundation of the future road and on-ramp is taking shape. It leads to the first of three twin bridges that will carry motorists over the grassy marshes and the slow, wide curves of the upper edge of the Vernon River.

Work crews already have a few spans in place for a temporary steel trestle that will be built between the bridges. It will serve as a staging site for bridgework.

The $67.5 million project, guided by Balfour Beatty Infrastructure of Wilmington, N.C., will connect the parkway to Abercorn Extension, and for the first time will allow swifter travel from the southside to eastern Savannah and the islands.

[architect77]

GDOT's new signage carrys on the legacy of imperfections...They should just give up and hire another state to make Georgia's guidesigns

Small text appears 3 different sizes, Raised-Capital treatment inconsistent, Georgia shield way too small, Elevated right-shoulder signage don't qualify as "overheads", easily visible to all lanes...I wish I could get a job at GDOT, they'd hate me....

[Bryant5493]

^^

There's a similar situation on I-20 East at U.S. 278 West/S.R. 12 West/124 North (Turner Hill Road - Lithonia/Snellville). I can't recall off-hand which was added to the sign gantry last -- S.R. 12 or S.R. 124 -- but in any event, it's too small. I was going to post a photo, but google maps doesn't show it. And I don't have it in my inventory.


Be well,

Bryant

[Bryant5493]

Ronald Reagan Parkway is a limited-access highway that connects Snellville to I-85, via Pleasant Hill Road. Pleasant Hill Road has a litany of traffic lights from Ronald Reagan's northern end to Veterans Parkway (I-85).

Ronald Reagan Parkway extension

Ronald Reagan Parkway extension feasibility study

Pleasant Hill Road & Ronald Reagan Parkway


Be well,

Bryant

[UptownRoadGeek]

Is Georgia doing away with full width exit tabs?

[ATLRedSoxFan]

Is Georgia doing away with full width exit tabs?

Yeah, I think they are on a gradual basis. I've noticed several above-tabs in the downtown area along with a few on I-85 (intown). Mostly on the connector.

[Alex]

Is Georgia doing away with full width exit tabs?

Yeah, I think they are on a gradual basis. I've noticed several above-tabs in the downtown area along with a few on I-85 (intown). Mostly on the connector.

They must be confined to Atlanta, because I saw none elsewhere during two days of driving across the state last week.

[Bryant5493]

^^

Most of the tabbed-exit signage is around the HOV exits, where GDOT's installed new signage. The only other place in Georgia that I've seen tabbed-exit signage is on the Liberty Expressway, in Albany.


Be well,

Bryant

[OracleUsr]

Parts of I-985 near Gainesville also have it.

[Bryant5493]

Controversial West Fayetteville Bypass - Phase I.


Be well,

Bryant

[D-Dey65]

Did GDOT put traffic signals on US 80 at Southbound Exit 102 on I-95 yet?

[golden eagle]

One question about Georgia 400: It's a state highway that's co-signed with U.S. 19. How did 400 get priority over it being called U.S. 19?