Georgia

[adventurernumber1]

I went to Athens recently and saw that the new interchange with GA 53 on GA 316 was completed, and thought to post photos, as I passed through at a good time, as it looks like very fresh, new concrete, signs, and gantries.












I did not get the chance to see it in real life, but it looks like the Winder Bypass appears to be done and open, according to GMSV. It looks very good, although I'm hoping it may eventually be four-laned to GA 316 whenever the interchange with Patrick Mill Rd. is complete. It currently drops down to a two-lane road here.

[adventurernumber1]

As they've been replacing BGS'ses on I-75 in northwest Georgia, most signs kept the same control cities and such but with a few exceptions. For some reason, the new BGS at Exit 333 (GA 52) has dropped Dalton as a control city (second photo shows what it used to be as that sign has not been replaced (yet)). I can't figure out why they would have dropped Dalton as a control city, given that exit is the main one for downtown Dalton, even if the other two exits (336 and 328) also serve important locations on the periphery of the city (especially industry-related).






Another exception is the BGS for Exit 288 (GA 113), which in the new iteration has dropped "Main St."  but kept the control city of Cartersville (essentially the opposite of the previous scenario).

[Georgia]

that is funny given both are in the same GDOT district based out of Cartersville.
I would expect the Dalton example to hold up as that part of 75 is in city limits so you are IN Dalton instead of going TO it while that part of 75 may be out of C'ville (for now). 

[ran4sh]

The proposed new MUTCD has some guidance on that, although I don't think it's the real reason GDOT did it.

In the proposed new MUTCD, if there is a "Next X Exits" sign for a given place/city, then that same city does not need to be repeated as a control city on the BGSs (Advance Guide signs and Exit Direction signs) for the exits. (Additionally there's the guidance to avoid mixing city names and street names, but that has been in the MUTCD for a long time)



Elsewhere in the state, who has noticed that the control cities for I-520 have changed?

In the past (when the route was incomplete) Columbia and Atlanta were used together as westbound control cities (eastbound signs would have some local destination). But at some point in the last few years it was changed, now Columbia is used for eastbound and Atlanta for westbound.

[D-Dey65]

I still hate the elimination of the right-turn ramp at the I-95 interchange with US 17 and GA 520 near Jekyll Island:

https://www.google.com/maps/@31.136156,-81.5740761,1914m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

In fact, I hate the trend towards eliminating a lot of them, and not just in Georgia.

[Tom958]

I went to Athens recently and saw that the new interchange with GA 53 on GA 316 was completed, and thought to post photos, as I passed through at a good time, as it looks like very fresh, new concrete, signs, and gantries.

Thanks for that!

I did not get the chance to see it in real life, but it looks like the Winder Bypass appears to be done and open, according to GMSV. It looks very good, although I'm hoping it may eventually be four-laned to GA 316 whenever the interchange with Patrick Mill Rd. is complete. It currently drops down to a two-lane road here.

Yes, it's open, and it's curvy, to the point where IMO it could use some diamond curve warning signs to emphasize the 45 mph speed limit. I'll be honest: it annoys me that such a road even exists, and it annoys me that the county courthouse is on it, out in the boonies with the county jail instead of in the county seat where it belongs.

[Tom958]

Something I stumbled upon on GDOT's website: There's a project in the works in Waycross to eliminate a grade crossing of Ossie Davis Parkway, former US 1-23, now Business 1-23, of the CSX railroad headed toward Atlanta. It involves building a half-mile-long viaduct, which seems rather extravagant to me. I'm guessing that there are lengthy blockages there due to CSX operations as opposed to a road-related problem. The project concept report was completed last March, but I haven't found it. It should be in preliminary design now.

http://www.dot.ga.gov/systems/ProjectDocuments/0013539/0013539-Newsletter-WareCounty-July2021.pdf

https://goo.gl/maps/riS8xdf415nDBXYJA

[Dirt Roads]

Something I stumbled upon on GDOT's website: There's a project in the works in Waycross to eliminate a grade crossing of Ossie Davis Parkway, former US 1-23, now Business 1-23, of the CSX railroad headed toward Atlanta. It involves building a half-mile-long viaduct, which seems rather extravagant to me. I'm guessing that there are lengthy blockages there due to CSX operations as opposed to a road-related problem. The project concept report was completed last March, but I haven't found it. It should be in preliminary design now.

http://www.dot.ga.gov/systems/ProjectDocuments/0013539/0013539-Newsletter-WareCounty-July2021.pdf

https://goo.gl/maps/riS8xdf415nDBXYJA

Can't believe that GDOT misspelt Ossie Davis' name on the map, particularly given that he grew up in nearby Cogdell.  By the way, those of us from the Chessie side of CSX called the town "Waysouth, Georgia". 

[D-Dey65]

Something I stumbled upon on GDOT's website: There's a project in the works in Waycross to eliminate a grade crossing of Ossie Davis Parkway, former US 1-23, now Business 1-23, of the CSX railroad headed toward Atlanta. It involves building a half-mile-long viaduct, which seems rather extravagant to me. I'm guessing that there are lengthy blockages there due to CSX operations as opposed to a road-related problem. The project concept report was completed last March, but I haven't found it. It should be in preliminary design now.

http://www.dot.ga.gov/systems/ProjectDocuments/0013539/0013539-Newsletter-WareCounty-July2021.pdf

https://goo.gl/maps/riS8xdf415nDBXYJA

I wasn't sure how they were going to handle the Dresden Street intersection, but after looking at the actual plan, I should've known they were going to turn it into a cul-de-sac.
https://www.dot.ga.gov/systems/ProjectDocuments/0013539/PIOH-WareCountyLayout.pdf

"ABC Avenue;" That's for the Atlanta, Birmingham and Coast Railroad, am I correct?

[Dirt Roads]

"ABC Avenue;" That's for the Atlanta, Birmingham and Coast Railroad, am I correct?

Indeed, except that railroad was referred to as the "A B & C" before getting completely absorbed by the Purple People (Atlantic Coast Line).

[tsmatt13]

Just something interesting: In Dillard, GA-246 and NC-106 cross over the state line 5 times due to the topography of the area.

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.994766,-83.3480175,1376m/data=!3m1!1e3

[afguy]

In anticipation of the new Rivian Plant in Morgan County, GDOT is planning to widen to a portion of U.S. 278. In addition to the widening project, a frontage road will be construction on the north side of I-20 and a new interchange will be built at Old Mill Road. Construction is expected to begin on the widening and new frontage road in 2023, while work on the new interchange will begin in 2024.

https://us278andoldmillroad-gdot.hub.arcgis.com/

[afguy]

In addition to the improvements in Morgan County for the Rivian Plant. The state is planning improvements in Bryan County for the new Hyundai Plant.

- Construction of a $1.2 million roundabout at Wilma Edwards Road, Church of God Road and Highway 280 just down the road is set to begin later this year or early next year.

- A 4-way signal at the Oracal Parkway and Highway 280 intersection in Black Creek is slated to be in place and working at some point next year, 2023. It will cost approximately $30,000. Both it and the Highway 280 roundabout at Wilma Edwards and Church of God roads will be funded by Transportation Local Option Sales Taxes.

- North of I-16, a roundabout at Highway 80 and 280 in Blitchton is slated for 2024 at the earliest. Last year, engineers said traffic studies at that intersection show as many as 300 left-hand turns are made an hour from 80 onto 280, in part by trucks leaving the port of Savannah headed toward I-16.

- The I-16 interchange, meanwhile, is reportedly set for a double roundabout similar to the one at the Belfast Keller Interchange at I-95 in South Bryan.

Though county engineers initially worried the state's purchase of Mega-Site would throw a curveball at Georgia Department of Transportation planners and could delay improvements to the interchange, officials now apparently believe the state's investment in the site will spur GDOT to move the project up to 2024.

https://www.bryancountynews.com/news/road-projects-abound-near-mega-site/

[Plutonic Panda]

Does Georgia have any plans to widen I-20 from the west state line to Atlanta?

[Tomahawkin]

Not that I know of in the next 4 years. It baffles me as to why IH 20 is still 4 lanes total in west GA especially with all the Truck/Vacation traffic that use that route...

[Plutonic Panda]

Yeah it's pretty much six lanes in Alabama you'd think Georgia would widen their stretch.

[Tom958]

Not that I know of in the next 4 years. It baffles me as to why IH 20 is still 4 lanes total in west GA especially with all the Truck/Vacation traffic that use that route...

As with all of us, it baffles me that they replaced the pavement from US 27 to GA 61 without adding lanes. If they'd added lanes, it probably would've cut the duration by half or even two-thirds due to easier detours. Meanwhile, they eight-lane I-85 for six miles around Newnan and block off two of the lanes. It makes no sense.

[Tomahawkin]

Yeah, I know, That I 20 was one of the dumbest road projects I have ever seen that accomplished NOTHING but maintainence. They could have atleast widened the bridge over US 27 if they were going to close half the interstate. Its going to need to be replaced eventually, total waste, especially since i know people who live out there and commute to areas of West Cobb/Douglas Counties...

[Jaxrunner]

I don't understand why the state of Georgia can't make a goal to widen all of IH 85 and IH 20 through the state to at least 6 lanes just as they did IH 75 a decade ago. It should be a priority but I know the money just isn't there.

[Tom958]

I don't understand why the state of Georgia can't make a goal to widen all of IH 85 and IH 20 through the state to at least 6 lanes just as they did IH 75 a decade ago. It should be a priority but I know the money just isn't there.

i-95, too, back in the glory days.

It's largely because the state did make it a priority to build nearly-deserted four-lane highways across the trackless wastes of rural Georgia under the still-unfinished yet still-expanding GRIP program.

I must say, though, that neither 20 nor 85 needs to be widened across the entire state.

[US 89]

Yeah, I much prefer this world to a hypothetical one where all the interstates are six lanes but there are no GRIP corridors. Those four-lane GRIP corridors are really enjoyable to drive and I'm pretty sure the safety impact of widening a 2-lane road to 4 lanes divided is much greater than widening a 4 lane freeway to 6.

[webny99]

Yeah, I much prefer this world to a hypothetical one where all the interstates are six lanes but there are no GRIP corridors. Those four-lane GRIP corridors are really enjoyable to drive and I'm pretty sure the safety impact of widening a 2-lane road to 4 lanes divided is much greater than widening a 4 lane freeway to 6.

Coming from a part of the country where four-lane divided highways are extremely rare... I always find them very pleasant and enjoyable to drive on in other parts of the country. They're a nice hybrid between "interstate" and "backroads" that are faster and more convenient than two lane roads, but with more small town charm and less of the bore/monotony of cross-country interstates.

[Rothman]

I don't understand why the state of Georgia can't make a goal to widen all of IH 85 and IH 20 through the state to at least 6 lanes just as they did IH 75 a decade ago. It should be a priority but I know the money just isn't there.

Widening Interstates also triggers additional NEPA requirements, which require personnel to go through that paperwork.

Wonder if they're having the same hiring issues other DOTs are having with engineers.

[sprjus4]

I must say, though, that neither 20 nor 85 needs to be widened across the entire state.

The only part of I-85 that doesn't need widening is between the Alabama state line and I-185.

The gap between the end of the 6 lane portion near Grantville to I-185, and the remainder of the highway up to the South Carolina state line needs to be expanded to 6 lanes.

As for I-20, the big need would be west of Atlanta to the Alabama state line. The highway is mostly adequate to the east.

[Gnutella]

I must say, though, that neither 20 nor 85 needs to be widened across the entire state.

You're right. The first 19 miles of I-85 in Georgia don't need to be widened. The rest of it does, however, and thankfully they're making progress. North(east) of Atlanta, I-85 has been widened to six lanes all the way up to Braselton, and the segment from Braselton to Jefferson should be finished by the end of this year, after which widening will commence on the segment from Jefferson to Commerce.