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Regional Boards => Southeast => Topic started by: Tomahawkin on November 09, 2013, 10:33:24 PM

Title: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Tomahawkin on November 09, 2013, 10:33:24 PM
Name Them???? I would Like to see that US 27 corridor built up as a freeway from border to boder and tolled since there wont be no Outer Perimeter outside of 285 built...Also I have wanted to Toll 95 in SE Ga, because Snowbirds form the NE use that route often and the state needs money to fix issues in Atlanta...That #### Nathan Deal has Neglected the Interstate/infrastructure during his reign, and SRTA is a Joke...And It looks like the STRA is gonna Hustle people with those Garbage HOT lanes (They are in the stages of adding more), the prices go up by the week since the SPLOST was voted down, which was dumb
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: NE2 on November 09, 2013, 11:53:21 PM
Hmm. Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Tomahawkin on November 10, 2013, 03:14:15 AM
I hope you are not being Sarcastic...? The State of Georgia needs revenue from Toll roads, that's How both Florida and Texas Fund many their road projects and Infrastructure maintenance...Also There Needs to be a "Revive I-285" Project that could settle the Top End Perimeter issues by adding a stretch of collector/distributor roads from The PIB Interchange (The Peachtree Industrial Blvd needs a Total Overhaul) all the way to 400 and Roswell Road...

That Whole area needs to be Redone in General...A Majority of those surface street interchanges are in need of repair! And Im Baffled in that the State doesn't believe in SPUI's? But will try to relieve issues by the diamond diverted interchanges (Ashford Dunwoody road and Pleasant Hill). The State thinking that will solve a lot of congestion is totally FUB'R...Its Like Putting a Band-aid on a Bullet wound

OTOH, The State needs to add toll roads on I-95 and US 27 as bypasses of Atlanta for all the Snowbirds who visit Florida this time of year, Its one of the few ways the state can improve its infrastructure....
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: hotdogPi on November 10, 2013, 09:37:48 AM
Remember that they will remove the tolls on GA 400, and they had a reason for that.
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Big John on November 10, 2013, 09:53:10 AM
Quote from: 1 on November 10, 2013, 09:37:48 AM
Remember that they will remove the tolls on GA 400, and they had a reason for that.

On Nov 22: http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/ga-400-tolls-to-officially-end-on-nov-22/nbmdX/
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: SSF on November 10, 2013, 10:15:28 AM
US 27 gets very little snowbird traffic, it's not really the best way to go unless you are just deathly afraid of Atlanta traffic.  In the SW GA area, 231/431 are far more useful and in NW GA/middle GA, it is predominantly local traffic. 

27 also has the misfortune of not going to a snowbird destination, as 75 goes to the FL peninsula, 231/431 goto PCB and I-10 to get to FWB and Pensacola, and 27 goes to Tallahassee. 

Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: NE2 on November 10, 2013, 11:30:33 AM
Quote from: SSF on November 10, 2013, 10:15:28 AM
27 also has the misfortune of not going to a snowbird destination, as 75 goes to the FL peninsula, 231/431 goto PCB and I-10 to get to FWB and Pensacola, and 27 goes to Tallahassee. 
You can stick to GRIP corridors and go Chattanooga-Valdosta via 27-520-133, adding only 30 miles to a 300+ mile trip (40 miles cutting southwest on 53 from Canton). Not that this justifies a new terrain highway, but does appear to be a reasonable alternate if you prefer the occasional slowdown to stop and go.
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: SSF on November 16, 2013, 10:15:39 PM
The road I think GDOT needs to focus on is the Fall Line Freeway to finally get that high speed connection from Columbus to Macon to Augusta.

Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: lordsutch on November 17, 2013, 01:40:04 AM
Quote from: SSF on November 16, 2013, 10:15:39 PM
The road I think GDOT needs to focus on is the Fall Line Freeway to finally get that high speed connection from Columbus to Macon to Augusta.

The last segment (the Milledgeville south bypass) is currently under construction, although the Macon section is currently a bit half-assed since Eisenhower Parkway won't be extended east to GA 57 and there are still a couple of other substandard sections that GDOT has little immediate interest in fixing (the two-lane section through Wrens, Butler's 30 mph speed trap, and the section near Alt US 27 that is going to be overrun with development in the next 10-15 years).
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: adventurernumber1 on July 19, 2014, 11:20:57 AM
If you want to see some summer projects for Georgia, here's a link. http://www.dot.ga.gov/projects/Pages/default.aspx
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Tom958 on July 19, 2014, 12:09:58 PM
Quote from: adventurernumber1 on July 19, 2014, 11:20:57 AM
If you want to see some summer projects for Georgia, here's a link. http://www.dot.ga.gov/projects/Pages/default.aspx

Construction of a pedestrian tunnel on State Route 284/Clarks Bridge Road in Hall County (a detour of this route will be in place until July 26).

Huh? Whut? I can't imagine why such a thing would be needed anywhere along that route.
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Tomahawkin on August 17, 2016, 02:12:19 PM
Bump. Anyone know the completion dates for the elevated toll lanes? After seeing the construction around Mcdonough, it seems that section won't be completed til Xmas of 2017 and the northern toll lanes look another 20+ months away from completion???
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: lordsutch on August 17, 2016, 04:33:59 PM
Quote from: Tomahawkin on August 17, 2016, 02:12:19 PM
Bump. Anyone know the completion dates for the elevated toll lanes? After seeing the construction around Mcdonough, it seems that section won't be completed til Xmas of 2017 and the northern toll lanes look another 20+ months away from completion???

Don't forget these are P3 projects, so the contractor makes more money for getting the project done sooner, unlike most GDOT projects where the contractor just has to meet a very relaxed completion date.

According to the charts on the GDOT site the I-75 south project is supposed to be done by the end of 2016, and most of what still needs to be done now (paving and some signs and barrier work) can be cranked out in a few months - all the major bridgework and grading is done, and even most of the mainline signage is installed except where a barrier is needed before it can be erected.
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Tomahawkin on August 17, 2016, 06:07:56 PM
Even at the 675 interchange? It looks like that part is at least 10 months off from completion?
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: dfwtbear on August 17, 2016, 07:09:39 PM
Quote from: Tomahawkin on August 17, 2016, 06:07:56 PM
Even at the 675 interchange? It looks like that part is at least 10 months off from completion?

The website is giving 2017.
http://www.dot.ga.gov/DS/GEL/I75ExpressLanes
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: lordsutch on August 17, 2016, 08:16:58 PM
Again, it's a P3. They get paid from the tolls for opening ASAP. Accordingly they will get done in a typical month what normally would take 2-3, since they're actually working the length of the project every day instead of foot-dragging like they'd do on a "normal" highway project.
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Georgia on August 17, 2016, 11:34:41 PM
here is a future Georgia project heh

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/could-capping-the-downtown-connector-rejuvenate-do/nsG2j/
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Gnutella on August 22, 2016, 06:20:05 AM
I'd like to see some of the major routes into Athens upgraded. Here's my list:


1. Upgrade GA 316 to a six-lane limited-access highway from the Athens Perimeter to Harbins Road, and an eight-lane limited-access highway from Harbins Road to I-85. Consider designating the highway I-785.

2. Upgrade U.S. 129 to a four-lane divided highway from Gray to Watkinsville, including the multiplex with U.S. 441 from Eatonton to Watkinsville, and including bypasses around Gray and Bishop.

3. Upgrade U.S. 78 to a four-lane divided highway from Athens to GA 22 east of Lexington, including a bypass around Crawford and Lexington.

4. Upgrade U.S. 29 to a four-lane divided highway from GA 106 to Hartwell, including a bypass around Franklin Springs and Royston. Upgrade GA 17 to a four-lane divided highway from Lavonia to Royston.

5. Widen the Athens Perimeter to six lanes from GA 316 to Lexington Road, including a radical overhaul of the GA 316/Perimeter interchange. Upgrade U.S. 29 to a four-lane limited-access highway from the Athens Perimeter to GA 106 in Hull. Consider making this part of the I-785 designation.

6. Upgrade U.S. 129 to a four-lane divided highway between Gainesville and Pendergrass.
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Tomahawkin on August 27, 2016, 10:30:02 PM
Quote from: Georgia on August 17, 2016, 11:34:41 PM
here is a future Georgia project heh
P
Quote from: Georgia on August 17, 2016, 11:34:41 PM
here is a future Georgia project heh

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/could-capping-the-downtown-connector-rejuvenate-do/nsG2j/
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/could-capping-the-downtown-connector-rejuvenate-do/nsG2j/

I don't think there is any way this project could happen. More construction on the connector would make it impassable if they close lanes for that kind of development. The connector is the most dangerous freeway I have ever traveled. I have near misses once a week on my commutes to work and I work in an area that is against the normal Atlanta traffic flow
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Strider on August 27, 2016, 11:57:13 PM
Quote from: Tomahawkin on August 27, 2016, 10:30:02 PM
Quote from: Georgia on August 17, 2016, 11:34:41 PM
here is a future Georgia project heh
P
Quote from: Georgia on August 17, 2016, 11:34:41 PM
here is a future Georgia project heh

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/could-capping-the-downtown-connector-rejuvenate-do/nsG2j/
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/could-capping-the-downtown-connector-rejuvenate-do/nsG2j/

I don't think there is any way this project could happen. More construction on the connector would make it impassable if they close lanes for that kind of development. The connector is the most dangerous freeway I have ever traveled. I have near misses once a week on my commutes to work and I work in an area that is against the normal Atlanta traffic flow


Eh.. I agree with you. The connector is the most dangerous freeway I traveled in too. I usually take 285 to avoid all of this.
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Finrod on June 03, 2017, 03:47:21 PM
Personally I would like to see these ideas from interstate-dots.blogspot.com built:

http://interstate-dots.blogspot.com/2006/03/interstate-22-extension-phase-i.html (http://interstate-dots.blogspot.com/2006/03/interstate-22-extension-phase-i.html)
Extending I-22 from Birmingham through Columbus, Albany, Tifton, Waycross, to end at Brunswick.

http://interstate-dots.blogspot.com/2006/03/interstate-81-interstate-185-re.html (http://interstate-dots.blogspot.com/2006/03/interstate-81-interstate-185-re.html)
Cosign I-81 with I-40 and I-75 to Calhoun, then a new expressway from there through Rome and Carrolton and Newnan, then cosigned with I-85 to I-185 (which would become I-81), and extended through Dothan AL all the way to Apalachicola FL.

http://interstate-dots.blogspot.com/2006/03/interstate-30-extension-currently.html (http://interstate-dots.blogspot.com/2006/03/interstate-30-extension-currently.html)
I-30 from Memphis to Huntsville (his site has it going around Memphis but I doubt that could happen), through Rome, the North Atlanta burbs, and Athens, and connecting to I-20 west of Augusta, with possible continuation to Hilton Head or Charleston SC.

Those in combination with I-14/Fall Line Freeway would connect up the state so you don't have to go through Atlanta to get to places any more.

(EDIT: added Rome to the list of cities the I-81 extension would go to.)
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: The Ghostbuster on June 03, 2017, 04:11:27 PM
I highly doubt any of those will happen in the real world. They most likely will happen in Fictional Highways.
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Tomahawkin on June 03, 2017, 05:34:38 PM
Thanks for bumping this post. IMO I think US 27 In west Georgia should be widened to 6 lanes from the Tennessee state line to Florida. This would help truck drivers as well as Summer traffic in Atlanta. Summer traffic in Atlanta on weekends has become a ####
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Aerobird on August 22, 2017, 10:32:59 PM
Quote from: Finrod on June 03, 2017, 03:47:21 PM
http://interstate-dots.blogspot.com/2006/03/interstate-81-interstate-185-re.html (http://interstate-dots.blogspot.com/2006/03/interstate-81-interstate-185-re.html)
Cosign I-81 with I-40 and I-75 to Calhoun, then a new expressway from there through Rome and Carrolton and Newnan, then cosigned with I-85 to I-185 (which would become I-81), and extended through Dothan AL all the way to Apalachicola FL.
Wait, what? Who looked at a map and thought Apalachicola needed an Interstate?  :eyebrow:

I hope they mis-read the map and were thinking Panama City (which does have a long-mooted and (unfortunatly) long-dead proposal to be linked to Dothan via freeway/Interstate/tollway/something), which is an entirely different sort of comprehension failure, but, really...
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Tomahawkin on August 22, 2017, 10:58:28 PM
I would be in favor of a bypass of Atlanta for traffic headed to the Florida panhandle. It would get rid of some spring and summer break tourist traffic, especially on weekends
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Tomahawkin on August 22, 2017, 11:01:24 PM
Also, I didnt realize how bad rush hour traffic was by the Airport. Its just as much hell because of all the truck traffic! MARTA raik Needs to be expanded south of the City NOW!!! Not in 2024!!!
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: lordsutch on August 23, 2017, 12:43:01 PM
Quote from: Tomahawkin on August 22, 2017, 10:58:28 PM
I would be in favor of a bypass of Atlanta for traffic headed to the Florida panhandle. It would get rid of some spring and summer break tourist traffic, especially on weekends

The problem is where would you put the thing. From a development perspective it's probably easier to route it west of Atlanta and it'd be generally shorter, but a lot of that traffic comes down I-85, not I-75 - and east of I-75 is where the NIMBYism is strongest (hence the death of the Northern Arc). US 27 would be a decent relief route, particularly once it's tied into I-185 at Lagrange, but it doesn't get close to I-75 again until south of I-10.

I do think a freeway that started on I-75 around Cartersville or Acworth, passed between Douglasville and Lithia Springs, then started curving southeast to run halfway between Peachtree City and Fayetteville, then ran to Griffin and roughly followed US 341 down to I-75 in Perry would be a viable relief route, particularly if you also extended GA 20 west to it to provide an alternative connection to the Atlanta Motor Speedway from the west. Most of the segments would have some degree of local utility at least, it'd give the underutilized US 19 corridor some useful extra connectivity, and would vastly improve north-south connectivity since there's basically nothing north-south in that region. But it'd cost a fortune.

If Georgia was in the new terrain toll road business I think it'd have the best prospects though.

As for getting MARTA commuter rail through Clayton County sooner, really that's up to whether the ARC wants to go back to the voters with a more viable TIA proposal than the one they shot down last time. Down here there's a quiet push to revive the Middle Georgia TIA with a vote in November coinciding with municipal elections when nobody is paying attention. I don't think transportation should be financed with a sales tax but it's apparently the only way the legislature can wash its hands of seeming responsible for a tax increase.
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: VTGoose on August 24, 2017, 03:08:42 PM
Quote from: Tomahawkin on August 22, 2017, 10:58:28 PM
I would be in favor of a bypass of Atlanta for traffic headed to the Florida panhandle. It would get rid of some spring and summer break tourist traffic, especially on weekends

Extending I-77 from Columbia, SC, on to I-75 in Florida could handle some of this traffic as an alternative to I-85 out of Charlotte. Granted, that would put people at the eastern end of the panhandle, but it would also open up an underserved section of Georgia. Second best would be to upgrade U.S. 1 and U.S. 220 from the Augusta area to close to Vadosta.

Bruce in Blacksburg
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Henry on August 25, 2017, 09:09:19 AM
Quote from: VTGoose on August 24, 2017, 03:08:42 PM
Quote from: Tomahawkin on August 22, 2017, 10:58:28 PM
I would be in favor of a bypass of Atlanta for traffic headed to the Florida panhandle. It would get rid of some spring and summer break tourist traffic, especially on weekends

Extending I-77 from Columbia, SC, on to I-75 in Florida could handle some of this traffic as an alternative to I-85 out of Charlotte. Granted, that would put people at the eastern end of the panhandle, but it would also open up an underserved section of Georgia. Second best would be to upgrade U.S. 1 and U.S. 220 from the Augusta area to close to Vadosta.

Bruce in Blacksburg

Wait up, they extended US 220 from Rockingham and no one told me? Seriously, I think an I-77 extension could do the trick, even though I-26 to I-95 is also a good routing for now.
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: VTGoose on August 25, 2017, 09:57:05 AM
Quote from: Henry on August 25, 2017, 09:09:19 AM

Wait up, they extended US 220 from Rockingham and no one told me? Seriously, I think an I-77 extension could do the trick, even though I-26 to I-95 is also a good routing for now.

Most of the time I-26 and I-95 work, but then you still have to cross Florida at some point to get to I-75. For now, I-10 and U.S. 301 is the route of choice (I-4 through the middle of Orlando is problematic). The issue is when there is heavy traffic and/or bad weather in South Carolina and the limits of two-lane interstates filled with drivers who can't drive. Then 26/95 becomes the route from hell until the Georgia line or Columbia (depending on direction of travel). We tried the cross-country route through Georgia once, but it was slow going due to having to slow to go through towns small and large. Adding some bypasses and upgrading some sections of the highways (like providing a way around Wren) would improve this route considerably.

Bruce in Blacksburg
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: afguy on August 30, 2017, 10:09:51 AM
A new interchange on I-185 is coming to South Columbus...
QuoteA new interchange on I-185 is coming to south Columbus. The new effort that costs more than $55 million dollars is expected to benefit drivers in a major way.

Representatives with Columbus Plans hosted an open house Tuesday afternoon, about the interchange set to come to the Cusseta and Old Cusseta Roads area. Rick Jones is the Planning Director for the City of Columbus. He explains why this area was selected.

"If you were to look at a map, this area is pretty much closed off from the rest of the world,"  says Jones.

He explains how folks living in the area of Cusseta and Old Cusseta Roads are forced to get to I-185 right now.
http://wrbl.com/2017/08/29/new-i-185-interchange-coming-to-south-columbus/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_WRBL_News_3
https://mgtvwrbl.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/082917_cusseta-rd.pdf
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: capt.ron on September 09, 2017, 01:41:14 PM
Quote from: SSF on November 10, 2013, 10:15:28 AM
US 27 gets very little snowbird traffic, it's not really the best way to go unless you are just deathly afraid of Atlanta traffic.  In the SW GA area, 231/431 are far more useful and in NW GA/middle GA, it is predominantly local traffic. 

27 also has the misfortune of not going to a snowbird destination, as 75 goes to the FL peninsula, 231/431 goto PCB and I-10 to get to FWB and Pensacola, and 27 goes to Tallahassee. 


For that to happen, US 27 needs to be on a new alignment once it approaches Trion & Summerville. One realignment was proposed and then dropped. I looked at an old GA map and it showed a dashed line east of Trion and Summerville and it connects up to existing 27 once it goes up the mountain east of Summerville. During the late 1980's they were turning the 2 lane 27 through Summerville (until reaching GA48) into a 5 lane.
It would also have to bypass other cities as it works its way south (Rome, Carrollton, and especially LaGrange.)
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Tom958 on September 10, 2017, 09:49:43 AM
Quote from: capt.ron on September 09, 2017, 01:41:14 PMFor that to happen, US 27 needs to be on a new alignment once it approaches Trion & Summerville.

Not necessarily. I googled Cedartown to Chattanooga and the preferred route was to I-75 right through downtown Calhoun via GA 53, US 41 and some unnumbered local streets! Maybe the relocated GA 53 to Union Hill Road will be preferred once it's finished.

QuoteOne realignment was proposed and then dropped. I looked at an old GA map and it showed a dashed line east of Trion and Summerville and it connects up to existing 27 once it goes up the mountain east of Summerville. During the late 1980's they were turning the 2 lane 27 through Summerville (until reaching GA48) into a 5 lane.

A few months ago, I drove as closely as possible the route of the Summerville Bypass, along Penns Bridge and Butler Dairy Roads. I'd read that the project was finally on the books after all these years, but now it's off again. Either way, it'd be a huge earthmoving project, and with a long grade of the greatest tolerable steepness. I'm guessing three times the magnitude of the Tallulah Falls bypass. I'm also thinking that it 'll remain in year six of the five-year plan forever.

QuoteIt would also have to bypass other cities as it works its way south (Rome, Carrollton, and especially LaGrange.)

I guess the southeast quadrant of the Rome bypass is in the works, though I'm too lazy to look it up. Carrollton isn't too bad: existing US 27 included a short bypass with six lanes and an interchange at the railroad bridge. Or, a case could be made going via Newnan, using the other. already-built Carrolton bypass, and avoiding LaGrange altogether.
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Life in Paradise on September 10, 2017, 10:29:38 PM
Quote from: Henry on August 25, 2017, 09:09:19 AM
Quote from: VTGoose on August 24, 2017, 03:08:42 PM
Quote from: Tomahawkin on August 22, 2017, 10:58:28 PM
I would be in favor of a bypass of Atlanta for traffic headed to the Florida panhandle. It would get rid of some spring and summer break tourist traffic, especially on weekends

Extending I-77 from Columbia, SC, on to I-75 in Florida could handle some of this traffic as an alternative to I-85 out of Charlotte. Granted, that would put people at the eastern end of the panhandle, but it would also open up an underserved section of Georgia. Second best would be to upgrade U.S. 1 and U.S. 220 from the Augusta area to close to Vadosta.

Bruce in Blacksburg

Wait up, they extended US 220 from Rockingham and no one told me? Seriously, I think an I-77 extension could do the trick, even though I-26 to I-95 is also a good routing for now.
I believe that should have said US 221 which runs parallel to US 1 in SE Georgia, and then swings SW to Valdosta while US 1 starts heading towards Jacksonville, FL.
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: 2Co5_14 on April 10, 2018, 05:14:23 PM
Quote from: Tom958 on September 10, 2017, 09:49:43 AM
Quote from: capt.ron on September 09, 2017, 01:41:14 PMFor that to happen, US 27 needs to be on a new alignment once it approaches Trion & Summerville.

QuoteOne realignment was proposed and then dropped. I looked at an old GA map and it showed a dashed line east of Trion and Summerville and it connects up to existing 27 once it goes up the mountain east of Summerville. During the late 1980's they were turning the 2 lane 27 through Summerville (until reaching GA48) into a 5 lane.

A few months ago, I drove as closely as possible the route of the Summerville Bypass, along Penns Bridge and Butler Dairy Roads. I'd read that the project was finally on the books after all these years, but now it's off again. Either way, it'd be a huge earthmoving project, and with a long grade of the greatest tolerable steepness. I'm guessing three times the magnitude of the Tallulah Falls bypass. I'm also thinking that it 'll remain in year six of the five-year plan forever.

When I was at GDOT, I actually worked on the Summerville Bypass design twice - in 2007-2008 and again in 2015.  You are absolutely right - it would have been an earthmoving nightmare.  We were looking at terraced retaining walls cutting into the side of a ridge up to 150 ft high, and fills on the downhill side just as tall! In addition, the town of Summerville was worried (and rightfully so) about the loss of business in their town if the main highway would be bypassing it by a good distance.  Given the construction expense, the inconsistent soil conditions and lack of local buy-in, our design work on the project was halted in 2016 and reassigned to a consultant.  A possible solution (and I don't know that this will be the final outcome) will be to widen the remaining 2/3 lane sections to 4-lane divided along the existing alignment, so it will increase safety and capacity without bypassing the town.
Title: Re: Future Georgia Projects/Issues
Post by: Tom958 on April 10, 2018, 09:14:41 PM
Quote from: 2Co5_14 on April 10, 2018, 05:14:23 PMWhen I was at GDOT, I actually worked on the Summerville Bypass design twice - in 2007-2008 and again in 2015.  You are absolutely right - it would have been an earthmoving nightmare.  We were looking at terraced retaining walls cutting into the side of a ridge up to 150 ft high, and fills on the downhill side just as tall! In addition, the town of Summerville was worried (and rightfully so) about the loss of business in their town if the main highway would be bypassing it by a good distance.  Given the construction expense, the inconsistent soil conditions and lack of local buy-in, our design work on the project was halted in 2016 and reassigned to a consultant.  A possible solution (and I don't know that this will be the final outcome) will be to widen the remaining 2/3 lane sections to 4-lane divided along the existing alignment, so it will increase safety and capacity without bypassing the town.

Another advantage of sticking to the current alignment is that Google thinks that the best route from Atlanta to Huntsville is via I-75, part of GA 140 that's being widened, US 27 to Summerville, then GA 48 and AL 40 to Scottsboro and US 72. The route may see significant increases in traffic in coming years. OT, but I found it to be a very pleasant and scenic drive as well as an efficient one.