Georgia

[Tom958]

Hello!

I've recently come back to the AARoad Forums and wanted to get familiar with the Georgia board.

Just wanted to speak on projects around Savannah considering I'm closer to that area than the Atlanta area. 

Welcome back! 

I haven't been in the area in a few years (though may be headed that way sometime this year), but have they started work yet on the I-16/I-95 interchange project yet (if it is still on as planned)?

That'll be an interesting project, and there's plenty more interesting stuff going on already in the Savannah area such as the southwestern extension of Jimmy Deloach Parkway.

I'm also curious to see the progress on the I-75/I-16 interchange project (which has been ongoing for a few years) next time I'm headed down.

GDOT often posts photos of 16-95 on Facebook, but rarely if ever of 16-75. With its twin flyovers, 16-95 is a  lot more photogenic.

[MarcusDoT]

Hello!

I've recently come back to the AARoad Forums and wanted to get familiar with the Georgia board.

Just wanted to speak on projects around Savannah considering I'm closer to that area than the Atlanta area. 

Welcome back! 

I haven't been in the area in a few years (though may be headed that way sometime this year), but have they started work yet on the I-16/I-95 interchange project yet (if it is still on as planned)?

That'll be an interesting project, and there's plenty more interesting stuff going on already in the Savannah area such as the southwestern extension of Jimmy Deloach Parkway.

I'm also curious to see the progress on the I-75/I-16 interchange project (which has been ongoing for a few years) next time I'm headed down.

They haven't posted much about the I-75/I-16 interchange as far as I know, probably due to the simple fact that I do not follow the regional DOT on social media, but when I went over to Macon last year, it look like it was making decent progress. It wasn't the best looking but you can tell that it was slowly starting to make strides in its construction. I-95/I-16 interchange on the other hand is doing very well, they're starting to install the concrete supports for the flyover, and even updating bridges near the I-516/I-16 interchange, which was needed severely.

[Tom958]

Yesterday I acquired a 1964 Rand McNally road atlas, which confirmed something I've suspected for a while but didn't know: According to the Georgia map, by 1964, I-85 was open from GA 51 to GA 77, near the SC line, while the rest north of what's now I-985 was still under construction. I always thought that the entire section from 985 to the SC line was oppressively uniform in appearance, but in fact the bridges from GA 51 north have the earliest type of two-tube metal guardrail while the ones south of there have open concrete rails of what I call the intermediate type.

Also, this and every other relevant map I've seen shows no crossing of the Savannah River-Lake Hartwell at or near that of I-85. Apparently, the bridge carrying GA-SC 59 over the river was inundated by the lake before the higher I-85 bridge could be completed!

It also shows I-75 under construction from the TN-GA line to GA 53 in Calhoun. the southern extent is believable, but the northern end was completed much earlier, I presume concurrently with I-75 and I-24 in Tennessee. In fact, this 1959 USCGS map shows it complete north of GA 151 in Ringgold.

Since I've come this far, I-75 is show as complete from the northern end of what's now called Florida's Turnpike to Unadilla and under construction to the southern outskirts of Macon, just south of I-475.

[roadman65]

Has anyone yet been on the Argyle Bypass in South Georgia?  According to GSV, which last captured it in 2018, the roadway is a two lane divided highway on that part of US 84.

[adventurernumber1]

(sorry for the poor image quality, this was the most successful of my attempts during the twilight lighting)

Along with all the tree-cutting on the sides of the road, they also seem to be replacing the old mile markers along I-75 with the newer kind with the interstate shield and cardinal direction on it. It looks to be complete on I-75 Northbound from at least Calhoun to the Tennessee line, but as of now the Southbound lanes still have the old mile markers.






It also looks like they are replacing some (or all?) of the BGS'ses which I noticed on I-75 Northbound tonight, but I am unsure of the reasoning for this.
iPhone

[Tom958]

It also looks like they are replacing some (or all?) of the BGS'ses which I noticed on I-75 Northbound tonight, but I am unsure of the reasoning for this.
iPhone

Generally, signs are replaced when their reflectivity no longer meets standards. On a section of I-85 in Gwinnett, the mainline signs were replaced while the ones on the CDs weren't. I guess the ones on the CDs get less wear and tear than the ones on the mainline. 

While we're in that general area: A couple of weeks ago, I got on I-75 at GA 225 and discovered this: a new one-lane northbound roadway cut into the former slope pavement so the original two-lane roadway could be used for southbound traffic alone. I don't think I've seen that done anywhere else.

[Georgia]

There is a project to replace all signage on the first 80 miles south of Tennessee

[architect77]

There is a project to replace all signage on the first 80 miles south of Tennessee

I wish they'd at least update the signage from the airport to downtown for a consistent, updated look.

I feel that the Southside is intentionally neglected which is infuriating.

When a new sign is added for a destination like Tyler Perry studios, the letters are jumbled together and not matching with the typical ones. It's like Public Works or something is hand-making these one-off signs. But lots of cities have their share of oddities.

Also from the above pics, it seems like metal must be expensive because of the tight fit of the info without any breathing room.

Augusta has the nicest-looking overheads in the state in my opinion, especially along I-520 Westbound.

[DJStephens]

Along with all the tree-cutting on the sides of the road, they also seem to be replacing the old mile markers along I-75 with the newer kind with the interstate shield and cardinal direction on it. It looks to be complete on I-75 Northbound from at least Calhoun to the Tennessee line, but as of now the Southbound lanes still have the old mile markers.






It also looks like they are replacing some (or all?) of the BGS'ses which I noticed on I-75 Northbound tonight, but I am unsure of the reasoning for this.
iPhone

Quite Bizarre.  Perhaps something to do with narrow ROW space on outside of roadway?  Although it is stated they replaced "normal"   BGS's.  Okay - wind loading.  Perhaps it has something to do with wind loading, as in a hurricane.  And the letter spacing on that "Chatsworth" sign is all messed up.

[Tom958]

https://gdot.maps.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/content/items/c134c988644c465587eff605ab837393/data

I think that is the relevant roll map

Yes, that's it. Sorry for the wild goose chase, everyone.

This came up on my Facebook feed tonight: the virtual public meeting for the I-85-McGinnis Ferry Road interchange. Serendipitously, the text refers to the south-facing ramps as collector-distributors, which they aren't.  Plan view. If they're actively trying to piss me off, it's working.

[VTGoose]

Yeah! I will. I wish G-DOT would Co-Sign with our suggestions! Especially our suggestions about some kind of North-South bypass of Atlanta Especially for Truck and Summer traffic en route to and from Florida...

Probably a fantasy highway, but extending I-77 south to Valdosta would be a north-south "bypass" of Atlanta that would provide an easier way to reach the west coast of Florida and I-75. Run it down I-20 from Columbia to Augusta, then roughly follow the U.S. 221 corridor to Valdosta. In addition to shifting traffic off the I-26/I-95/I-4 or I-10 jaunt to reach I-75, a new interstate would open up a part of Georgia to a better road than the mostly two-lane highways through small towns that exist now. Midwest traffic could drop into Knoxville on I-75 (or I-40) and take I-40 east to pick up I-26 at Asheville. The swing east to Columbia wouldn't be much different than the swing west on I-75 through the problem of Chattanooga. The advantage overall would be avoiding going anywhere near Atlanta.

[US 89]

The portion of that proposal through GA is already a GRIP corridor if you're willing to go slightly out of the way through Waycross. All that stands in the way of a continuous four lane Valdosta-Waycross-Augusta highway is some upgrades to US 1 in Toombs and Jefferson Counties, which are probably coming in the not too distant future.

[RoadPelican]

https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/local/the-news-and-farmer/2021/09/26/final-piece-us-1-widening-project-advances-contract-awarded/5829436001/

All of US 1 in Georgia should be 4 lanes by the end of 2024.

[ran4sh]

I was on 316 in Barrow County recently and I noticed that the interchange with SR 53 (SR 8, US 29 Business) is now open. The exit number is 27, which reflects the overall mileage of 316 rather than the Barrow County mileage (which was used for "exit 5" at the SR 81 interchange). There are a few signs posted along the mainline that are supposed to go along the ramps, such as the directional signs indicating Winder and Watkinsville to the left and right. The BGS destination legend reads "Hog Mtn Road" (I would have preferred control cities) and omits SR 8 and US 29 Business, I didn't take the exit so I'm not sure if those routes are signed from the ramps or not.

[US 89]

I was on 316 in Barrow County recently and I noticed that the interchange with SR 53 (SR 8, US 29 Business) is now open. The exit number is 27, which reflects the overall mileage of 316 rather than the Barrow County mileage (which was used for "exit 5" at the SR 81 interchange). There are a few signs posted along the mainline that are supposed to go along the ramps, such as the directional signs indicating Winder and Watkinsville to the left and right. The BGS destination legend reads "Hog Mtn Road" (I would have preferred control cities) and omits SR 8 and US 29 Business, I didn't take the exit so I'm not sure if those routes are signed from the ramps or not.

As far as I know, those are the first mile-based exit numbers in Georgia that are not on an interstate. I like that. Now if only they could renumber the ones on 400...

[Tomahawkin]

Out of curiosity? Why wasn't 400 named a spur interstate? Im guessing 1980's local opposition? 400 Does more traffic than interstate 20 in Jackson MISS. 400 not being a designated interstate costs the state federal funding to assist in freeway improvements...

[Tom958]

I was on 316 in Barrow County recently and I noticed that the interchange with SR 53 (SR 8, US 29 Business) is now open. The exit number is 27, which reflects the overall mileage of 316 rather than the Barrow County mileage (which was used for "exit 5" at the SR 81 interchange). There are a few signs posted along the mainline that are supposed to go along the ramps, such as the directional signs indicating Winder and Watkinsville to the left and right. The BGS destination legend reads "Hog Mtn Road" (I would have preferred control cities) and omits SR 8 and US 29 Business, I didn't take the exit so I'm not sure if those routes are signed from the ramps or not.

Great news, though, of course, there never should've been any hesitation on doing it that way. Hopefully they'll do the same on 400 forthwith, though I'll be shocked if they do.

[ran4sh]

I was on 316 in Barrow County recently and I noticed that the interchange with SR 53 (SR 8, US 29 Business) is now open. The exit number is 27, which reflects the overall mileage of 316 rather than the Barrow County mileage (which was used for "exit 5" at the SR 81 interchange). There are a few signs posted along the mainline that are supposed to go along the ramps, such as the directional signs indicating Winder and Watkinsville to the left and right. The BGS destination legend reads "Hog Mtn Road" (I would have preferred control cities) and omits SR 8 and US 29 Business, I didn't take the exit so I'm not sure if those routes are signed from the ramps or not.

As far as I know, those are the first mile-based exit numbers in Georgia that are not on an interstate. I like that. Now if only they could renumber the ones on 400...

SR 10 Loop uses mile-based numbers, but other than that I think you're right

[US 89]

I was on 316 in Barrow County recently and I noticed that the interchange with SR 53 (SR 8, US 29 Business) is now open. The exit number is 27, which reflects the overall mileage of 316 rather than the Barrow County mileage (which was used for "exit 5" at the SR 81 interchange). There are a few signs posted along the mainline that are supposed to go along the ramps, such as the directional signs indicating Winder and Watkinsville to the left and right. The BGS destination legend reads "Hog Mtn Road" (I would have preferred control cities) and omits SR 8 and US 29 Business, I didn't take the exit so I'm not sure if those routes are signed from the ramps or not.

As far as I know, those are the first mile-based exit numbers in Georgia that are not on an interstate. I like that. Now if only they could renumber the ones on 400...

SR 10 Loop uses mile-based numbers, but other than that I think you're right

Hm. You're right, but I could have sworn the counterclockwise exit numbers were sequential. I guess I haven't been over there myself in a good while...

[ran4sh]

They might *seem* sequential for a stretch because there is an exit every mile from mile 6 to mile 15.

[Tom958]

Out of curiosity? Why wasn't 400 named a spur interstate? Im guessing 1980's local opposition? 400 Does more traffic than interstate 20 in Jackson MISS. 400 not being a designated interstate costs the state federal funding to assist in freeway improvements...

I don't remember exactly how it played out, but I-985 was designated after the 55 mph speed limit was repealed for rural Interstate highways on April 2, 1987. Later that same year, it was repealed for rural non-Interstate highways built to Interstate standards. By 1987, GA 400 was being widened to six and eight lanes in Fulton County, so perhaps it was thought that the 14.7-mile rural Forsyth County section of GA 400 wasn't worth the trouble. The point became moot later that year anyway, and there must've been scuttlebutt about it months beforehand. That's my semi-educated guess, anyway.

[Mapmikey]

Out of curiosity? Why wasn't 400 named a spur interstate? Im guessing 1980's local opposition? 400 Does more traffic than interstate 20 in Jackson MISS. 400 not being a designated interstate costs the state federal funding to assist in freeway improvements...

Georgia requested both GA 400 and GA 316 be added to the interstate system in spring 1984.

On June 20, 1984 FHWA decided to accept Georgia's requests for GA 365 (I-985) and GA 21 (I-516) but declined to accept GA 400 and GA 365 (no numbers floated).

See page 6 at the 1984 I-985 application - https://grmservices.grmims.com/vsearch/portal/public/na4/aashto/default
https://na4.visualvault.com/app/AASHTO/Default/documentviewer?DhID=05420532-06d5-ea11-a98a-ff9beffbfef8&hidemenu=true

[Tomahawkin]

Good 411! I always wondered why 316 wasn't made interstate grade to Athens. Athens is a suburb of Atlanta now with people moving to Eastern Gwinnett, Monroe, and Barrow counties because the houses are cheaper there as opposed to living near 285

[RoadWarrior56]

If SR 400 were submitted for application today, I think there would be better chance it would be accepted this time.  For one, 400 has now been extended south to connect to I-85 in Atlanta, plus the cities that it serves north of I-285 are now much more populous and are continuously urban or near-urban.

[Tomahawkin]

I agree, and it's a vacation corridor to the North Georgia/N. Carolina Mountains and casino destinations. I will have to ask people If they face traffic to and from those locations. Dahlonega, Ellijay and Hiawassee are growing retirement destinations...