Georgia

[afguy]

Some photos I took of the South Metro Express Toll Lane project.....
Interstate 75 South by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 75 South by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 75 South by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 75 South by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 75 South by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 75 South by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 75 South by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 75 South by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 75 South by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 75 South by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 75 South by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 75 South by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 75 South by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 75 South by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 75 South by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 75 South by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 75 South by brandon walker, on Flickr

[Tomahawkin]

Thanks for the pics! Do you plan on taking pic of the toll lanes north of 285? IMO. The south toll lanes look like a rush job. They need to address the main lanes and interchanges as well. The S.R. 138 is one it has needed improvements since 2000. 
Among others in that area. It's going to be like putting a band aid on a bullet wound...

[afguy]

Thanks! I do plan on taking photos of the Northwest Express Lanes soon. I want to see how the I-85 Express Lane extension is progressing as well.

[Tom958]

Thanks! I do plan on taking photos of the Northwest Express Lanes soon. I want to see how the I-85 Express Lane extension is progressing as well.

Thanks for the photos! I'm sure you'll have a field day with the Northwest Corridor. I'll tell you, though: the 85 project is really not photogenic.

[afguy]

Thanks for the heads up. I figured the I-85 project wont have any real progress until late 2017.

[afguy]

This project could easily tie into I-14 if it ever makes its way to Georgia.

The more than $55 million project, referred to as the Sardis Church Road extension, would provide a route from the Sardis Church Road interchange at Interstate 75 over to Ga. 247.

The 6.3-mile route includes construction of five bridges, a four-lane divided east-west connector with a median, 4-foot bike lanes as well as 5-foot sidewalks on both sides of the roadway, according to an email from Kimberly Larson, a communications officer with the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The total bid amount was $55,441,198, and work began April 24, 2015. The completion date is estimated for May 31, 2019.

"C.W. Matthews anticipates placing asphalt on the extension sometime in March 2017, weather cooperating,"  she said.

Macon-Bibb Mayor Robert Reichert said he thinks the DOT conceived of the extension from I-75 "as another way to get traffic from I-75 to Robins Air Force Base without having to drive through the city of Warner Robins."

The project will not only bring about more efficient traffic patterns, he said, but will have a major impact on another mode of transportation.

"We were very enthusiastic about it because it would make Middle Georgia Regional Airport easily accessible to I-75,"  he said. "You don't have to know your way to try to get from the airport to I-75 or from I-75 to the airport."

Macon-Bibb County's plans to lengthen the runway at the airport would not be hampered by the Sardis Church Road extension. The 6,500-foot runway now ends on a hill above Avondale Mill Road, which is part of the road extension.

Reichert said it has been determined that if the runway is lengthened, there "is more than enough room to put in a tunnel (on Avondale Mill Road) and still have about 10 feet of fill on top of the tunnel to get up to the top of the runway."

The estimated cost of the tunnel and the runway extension is about $32 million.

The economic impact of the extension is expected to radiate outward even farther.

"It would have, in my opinion, an extraordinary impact on Middle Georgia as far as making us a transportation and logistics hub that would serve not only this Middle Georgia region but the entire state,"  he said.

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/news/business/article122740404.html#storylink=cpy

http://www.macon.com/news/business/article122740404.html

[afguy]

Status on the new Flat Shoals Pkwy/I-285 interchange...
http://www.ajc.com/news/local/actual-factual-dekalb-will-the-flat-shoals-285-roadwork-ever-end/TMLdxri8dfmTeBVfn1P08I/

[lordsutch]

Since the GRIP number for the Fall Line is 540, it's interesting that Bruce cited that number -- have they actually signed the new section of the expressway as that number (and are they intending to extend such signage once the route is fully & functionally completed as an expressway)?  If so, it'll join 515 & 520 in the "actually signed as such" GRIP family.  It would be useful for the through-traffic purposes that the facility is intended to enhance if a single number would be applied from Macon to Augusta; 540 would certainly do!

No, it's not signed in the field as GA 540. The new section is now posted as a rerouting/extension of GA 243 between old GA 243 and GA 24; former GA 243 (Irwinton Road/Gordon Highway) has been decommissioned south of US 441 to the FLF and is now cosigned with US 441 Business as GA 29 Business north of US 441. So I guess either GDOT changed its mind on the GA 540 designation or it never really existed.

Speaking of odd designations in the vicinity, I also finally had the chance to drive the Gray Bypass... which is signed as "Gray Bypass" on a white-on-green sign about 50% bigger than the size of a 3-digit GA shield, complete with black-on-white directional banners (North/South). All of the state highways and US 129 remain on the old routing through Gray.

[sparker]

Since the GRIP number for the Fall Line is 540, it's interesting that Bruce cited that number -- have they actually signed the new section of the expressway as that number (and are they intending to extend such signage once the route is fully & functionally completed as an expressway)?  If so, it'll join 515 & 520 in the "actually signed as such" GRIP family.  It would be useful for the through-traffic purposes that the facility is intended to enhance if a single number would be applied from Macon to Augusta; 540 would certainly do!

No, it's not signed in the field as GA 540. The new section is now posted as a rerouting/extension of GA 243 between old GA 243 and GA 24; former GA 243 (Irwinton Road/Gordon Highway) has been decommissioned south of US 441 to the FLF and is now cosigned with US 441 Business as GA 29 Business north of US 441. So I guess either GDOT changed its mind on the GA 540 designation or it never really existed.

Speaking of odd designations in the vicinity, I also finally had the chance to drive the Gray Bypass... which is signed as "Gray Bypass" on a white-on-green sign about 50% bigger than the size of a 3-digit GA shield, complete with black-on-white directional banners (North/South). All of the state highways and US 129 remain on the old routing through Gray.

My guess would be that since both the east and west end of the corridor more or less segue into existing exurban arterials (US 1 in the Wrens-Augusta area and US 80 at the other end east of Macon), any singular through designation would be delayed until such time as more appropriate connections are made to through routes (Interstates or other expressways) in each area -- i.e., less "slog" through built-up commercial zones. 

[Tom958]

More likely it's because of the mileage cap on numbered state routes. That said, IMO it would've made more sense to call the new highway 540 and do away with most or all of 243.

[Eth]

For what it's worth, the number 540 never appeared on the official state map. (Mind you, that may not be worth much; it doesn't even show the 4xx numbers on the Interstates anymore.)

2013-14 (new road not on map at all, even proposed)


2015-16 (open portion to US 441 with no number shown)


2017-18 (all shown as 243, old 243 decommissioned, 112 truncated)

[adventurernumber1]

On an unrelated topic: The I-75-US 41/76 interchange on the north side of Dalton is getting a new southbound 75 to northbound 41 ramp in addition to an upgrade of the existing southbound to south/eastbound loop ramp. I can't tell in the field if there'll be one exit from 75 or two, and I'm too lazy to look up the project concept report.


This is in adventurenumber's 'hood. Whatever happened to him? 

My apologies, due to health issues I have been on a nearly 2 year hiatus from the forum and other online sites. But I'm back now!         

[adventurernumber1]

Interstate 75's Exit 336 construction in Dalton is seemingly pretty much completed. There is in fact two off-ramps on I-75 Southbound - a ramp that veers to the right for US 41 Northbound and US 76 Westbound (EXIT 336B), and a new loop ramp for US 41 Southbound and US 76 Eastbound (EXIT 336A). The new loop ramp is seemingly much safer than the old one, including the fact that it now has a jersey barrier for protection while turning. I-75's Exits 336 A-B look to be in pretty good shape after all of this construction. Here are some fresh pictures of mine from yesterday:

















All pictures are along Interstate 75 South.

[Tom958]

Welcome back! 

Unlike some other states, GDOT doesn't number exits on a CD road, or otherwise beyond the initial exit. Correction: didn't. Why would they start now? And here? That oversized exit sign with the posts on the freaking shoulders-- wow! And that last sign for Exit 336A must be designed to lure drunk drivers into crashing. Double wow.

[adventurernumber1]

Unlike some other states, GDOT doesn't number exits on a CD road, or otherwise beyond the initial exit. Correction: didn't. Why would they start now? And here? That oversized exit sign with the posts on the freaking shoulders-- wow! And that last sign for Exit 336A must be designed to lure drunk drivers into crashing. Double wow.

Yes, I will say that is a little strange.


I also have fairly fresh pictures (taken from my own youtube videos, but for some reason in the pictures the user interface is still showing (of youtube) even though I tried to crop it all out) of the newly finished construction on I-75's Exit 315 (GA SR 156; Redbud Road, Calhoun), which was greatly optimized.

Here they are:





















These are from both I-75 Southbound and Northbound.

Also, I sincerely apologize if the titles of my videos appear as lazy or peculiar - the reason is that school has rendered me time only to upload my road videos, not work on making my up-to-my-standards, elaborate, quality descriptions or even titles, but by the summer it will happen.

[adventurernumber1]

Lastly, I have fairly fresh pictures (taken from my own youtube videos, but for some reason in the pictures the user interface is still showing (of youtube) even though I tried to crop it all out) of Interstate 75's new Exit 310 (Union Grove Road), which was finished way long ago. It looks pretty nice.

Here are the pics:





















These are all from I-75 Southbound.

Also, I sincerely apologize if the titles of my videos appear as lazy or peculiar - the reason is that school has rendered me time only to upload my road videos, not work on making my up-to-my-standards, elaborate, quality descriptions or even titles, but by the summer it will happen.

[Tom958]

For anyone who doesn't know, the Union Hill Road interchange will serve a new bypass for GA 53, which is now under construction. Come to think of it, it's odd that the signs on 75 aren't big enough for route shields.

[adventurernumber1]

For anyone who doesn't know, the Union Hill Road interchange will serve a new bypass for GA 53, which is now under construction. Come to think of it, it's odd that the signs on 75 aren't big enough for route shields.

Yes, and that is why Union Grove Road through the new exit is multi-lane. I will agree it is odd that the BGSes weren't accommodated for route shields. That means the signs will probably have to be replaced once the new bypass is complete.

There is much local opposition for the new bypass but I am all for it. Probably the thing it will be most beneficial for is truck traffic. The carpet and flooring industry runs very strong in Calhoun (as well as in Dalton and elsewhere in north Georgia). The amount of trucks in the area undeniably warranted a new exit at Union Grove Road, and it also warrants a new southern Calhoun bypass. They may even make the new four-laned road even more lanes near the exit to accommodate industry, turn lanes, and future development (they may already have done so, but surprisingly I haven't been on the exit itself yet to know).

There is also a massive Lowe's Distribution Center near the GA SR 53/GA SR 140 intersection, which means a whole lot of truck traffic from that as well.

This new bypass idea does remind me of Dalton's South Bypass (US 41/GA 3), which was built in the 1990's, because that bypass also heavily runs on industry and truck traffic (as well as the North Dalton Bypass (which is the same continuous road), but that section of the bypass has significantly more commuter and regular vehicular traffic).

This new bypass will also help through traffic traveling on GA SR 53 going east or west. Georgia Highway 53 through Calhoun is very congested, and that alone warrants a new bypass for through traffic. It is a non-stop line of businesses and traffic from a little ways east of GA 53 SPUR to just east of I-75's Exit 312 (which also includes the Calhoun Premium Outlets).

I think this bypass is a wonderful idea.

[afguy]

The governor announced today that two of the mobility projects announced last year will be bumped up to 2018 for construction. The widening of I-85 between Hamilton Mill and SR 211 and the widening of I-16 between I-95 and I-516.

[mvcg66b3r]

YAAAAASSSSSS!!!!! 

HALLELUJAH!!!

[afguy]

GDOT is currently conducting a study of Tara Blvd. One of the possible improvements could involve upgrading the highway to a freeway. Personally, it makes sense to me considering over 66,000 commuters use the highway everyday.

Tara Boulevard, also defined as SR 3/ US 19/41, is a north-south route that connects motorists from as far south as Griffin, Ga to Atlanta, Ga. Tara Boulevard begins at the intersection with I-75, and continues south as a parallel route to I-75. This parallel proximity to the interstate provides some motorists with an alternative to commuting via the interstate. In 2014, the corridor experienced ADT volumes of approximately 66,000 vehicles. Tara Boulevard is also a truck route with 8% truck traffic. Additionally, the corridor is a bus route for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) Xpress transit services. Motorists utilize Tara Boulevard to arrive at popular regional destinations such as Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The Department acknowledges the importance of Tara Boulevard to the airport, cities, and counties that are traversed by the corridor; therefore, an extensive evaluation of the corridor will be undertaken. The evaluation process will explore a range of feasible options focused on reducing congestion, improving operations, and enhancing connectivity along the corridor. Possible options for review include, but are not limited to: intersection improvements; a super arterial freeway concept with local access roads; and grade-separated interchanges.

http://www.dot.ga.gov/BuildSmart/Studies/Pages/StudyDetails.aspx?studyID=1

[Eth]

As someone who grew up in Henry County, I've long thought a freeway connection from Griffin to Atlanta would make sense, though I've usually envisioned it as a southward extension of I-675. The Tara Blvd corridor would be very intriguing, though - I'd imagine at least from SR 54 northward it would probably need to be a configuration similar to the freeway portion of SR 141. Freeway access to AMS would definitely be a plus - I know race weekends were a complete nightmare prior to the widening of SR 20 in the 2000s; I haven't been down there much since then, so I don't know how much the situation has improved.

I'd probably also four-lane SR 54 as part of this to improve access from Fayetteville.

[lordsutch]

Honestly I'm surprised GDOT is seriously considering an upgrade, although it's well overdue and - if extended to tie into I-75 at Forsyth - could function as a diversion route for when I-75's congestion in Henry County gets out of hand. South of Jonesboro the improvements could also be integrated with the proposed Clayton MARTA commuter rail extension via Griffin to Macon.

Hopefully it won't generate the shortsighted local response that upgrading the SR 20 corridor (aka the Northern Arc) did.

[Alex]

https://twitter.com/GADeptofTrans/status/824343665506222080

Is this for the entire Express lane system along I-75 south of Atlanta (including the connections with I-675)?

[Tomahawkin]

Yes. I'm curious to see if it will be worth it to the drivers? IMO. They should have made those lanes elevated after the 675 interchange up to 285. There is a 2 lane left hand lane merge from the toll lanes to 75 North within 5000 feet of space onto the crowded 3 lanes of 75. That will cause a lot of accidents during am rush hour. Its a band aid on a bullet wound