Georgia

[adventurernumber1]

Take a trip along scenic Georgia 246 - which buzzes on both sides of the NC/GA State line before becoming NC 106.  Old gn.com page with photos from John Krakoff now on the blog.

http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2018/02/a-scenic-drive-along-ga-246.html

That looks like a truly beautiful, scenic road. It is indeed short but sweet. As of now, I have never been in the northeast corner of Georgia, but I would certainly like to go in the future. Thanks for posting! 

Back in the early 2000's, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport went through a major runway expansion.  Like any other airport expansion, it had a significant impact to the roads and highways that surround it.  In this case, Georgia Highways 139 and 319 saw a significant reroute (their second since the 1970s). Our own John Krakoff, who was living in Atlanta at the time, documented some of the interesting leftovers from the old routes.

http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2018/02/former-alignments-of-ga-139-and-314.html

Wow, it is amazing to take a look back at that history. Those old alignments are incredibly interesting. Whenever I look at the Atlanta Airport on a (new) map, it is very obvious that the current configuration of many of these roads were directly affected by the colossal airport itself, and its expansions and changes over the years. Looking at the current alignments of GA 139 and GA 314, you can definitely tell that the unusual routings in that spot are a direct result of the airport expansion. I never knew the history of these roads, though. This is incredibly fascinating stuff, so thank you for sharing! 

One more old gribblenation Georgia feature from the photos of John Krakoff - the Auchumpkee Creek Covered Bridge in Upson County

http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2018/02/auchumpkee-creek-bridge-upson-county.html

That covered bridge is absolutely beautiful! It is amazing that it is still standing after all that it has been through (such as the tropical storm). Sadly, I have yet to see a covered bridge myself in person, but I hope to do so for the first time very soon. I actually think I recall my parents telling me that there is one somewhere near Cartersville, GA, but we have yet to have gone to see it. This one certainly looks nice, so thank you for posting! 

[Gnutella]

Trees are all cleared on both sides of GA 81 at GA 316 now. Time for GDOT to get digging now!

After this interchange is built, they need to build an interchange at U.S. 29/Lawrenceville Highway next, and then Harbins Road.

[afguy]

I went down to Macon today after work and took some photos of the progress being made on the Sardis Church Road extension. I must say this project is coming along quite fast.
Sardis Church Road Extension-Macon by brandon walker, on Flickr

Sardis Church Road Extension-Macon by brandon walker, on Flickr


Sardis Church Road Extension-Macon by brandon walker, on Flickr

Sardis Church Road Extension-Macon by brandon walker, on Flickr

[Tom958]

Wow, nice curved bridge. Is there not another on the other side, like at or behind where this photo was taken from? 



Haven't seen a new installation of this single tube bridge guardrail for a while, either.



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In Gwinnett County, the end of an era: conventional signage has replaced all but one of the three Olympic-era diagrammatics at the I-85-GA 316 split. A couple of years ago, GDOT would've gone with rogue APL's, and indeed the new gantries appear massive enough to support them, but they've correctly used conventional signage instead.

[afguy]

Wow, nice curved bridge. Is there not another on the other side, like at or behind where this photo was taken from? 



Haven't seen a new installation of this single tube bridge guardrail for a while, either.



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In Gwinnett County, the end of an era: conventional signage has replaced all but one of the three Olympic-era diagrammatics at the I-85-GA 316 split. A couple of years ago, GDOT would've gone with rogue APL's, and indeed the new gantries appear massive enough to support them, but they've correctly used conventional signage instead.

The curved bridge ramp for the eastbound Sardis Church connection to southbound SR 247 is not underway yet. There was only one lonely ghost pier. One on the other side is a curved ramp to northbound SR 247/Hawkinsville Road. It will be interesting to see how this interchange will be reconfigured in the future if the Sardis Church Road project goes all the way to I-16.

[adventurernumber1]

I went down to Macon today after work and took some photos of the progress being made on the Sardis Church Road extension. I must say this project is coming along quite fast.

That all looks and sounds incredibly nice. I was very amazed and intrigued by the work they did on Sardis Church Road during the widening and work on Interstate 75 (and I-75 itself in this area is a true masterpiece after lots of recent, impressive construction) that they did several years ago. I believe they added an interchange at I-75 & Sardis Church Rd., and there was not one there before, IIRC. But they didn't do just that - they absolutely went above and beyond, by widening Sardis Church Road itself, creating some development in the area, and even adding a bike lane to the road. After looking on Google Maps Street View, I also notice that there is a new truck stop (Love's) at the exit as well. As a result of all of this, I do predict that the future looks very bright for this area, and for the travelers that pass through it. 

So with all of that said, I cannot describe in words how very excited I am to hear that they are extending this great road even further, and making it shine!!   

Sardis Church Road Extension-Macon by brandon walker, on Flickr

Sardis Church Road Extension-Macon by brandon walker, on Flickr


Sardis Church Road Extension-Macon by brandon walker, on Flickr

Sardis Church Road Extension-Macon by brandon walker, on Flickr

Those pictures all look wonderful, so thank you for sharing them!! 

That curved bridge does indeed look unbelievably nice, and I am excited to see how this interchange will be configured - and if it will in fact be reconfigured in the future to accomodate for an extended Sardis Church Rd. to Interstate 16 - that will be incredibly interesting as well to see if, in the future, the road even makes it all the way to I-16 - if it does, that would be very cool!!   

[afguy]

I'm currently in Savannah right now and while I'm here I plan on taking some photos of a few Savannah area road projects.
First up is the new Jimmy DeLoach Parkway Connector which is signed as ALT SR 21.
Jimmy Deloach Parkway Connector-Savannah by brandon walker, on Flickr

Jimmy Deloach Parkway Connector-Savannah by brandon walker, on Flickr

Jimmy Deloach Parkway Connector-Savannah by brandon walker, on Flickr

[Plutonic Panda]

Thank you for the photos! I love threads that have construction pictures.

[afguy]

Here are some more photos I took today of road projects in the Savannah area. First up is a couple of photos of the north end of the Jimmy Deloach Connector.
Jimmy Deloach Parkway Connector-Savannah by brandon walker, on Flickr

Jimmy Deloach Parkway Connector-Savannah by brandon walker, on Flickr


Then finally is the new SR 204/King George Blvd interchange on the southside of Savannah.
S.R. 204/King George Blvd Interchange-Savannah by brandon walker, on Flickr

Savannah by brandon walker, on Flickr

[afguy]

On my way from Savannah today, I decided to take some photos of the progress on the new collector/distributor lanes being built along eastbound I-16.

Interstate 16/Interstate 75 Interchange Reconstruction-Macon by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 16/Interstate 75 Interchange Reconstructio Project-Macon by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 16/Interstate 75 Interchange Reconstruction Project-Macon by brandon walker, on Flickr

Interstate 16/Interstate 75 Interchange Reconstruction Project-Macon by brandon walker, on Flickr

[adventurernumber1]

Thank you very much for posting and sharing all of those pictures, afguy!   

The Jimmy DeLoach Parkway Connector (GA SR 21 ALT) looks like an absolutely beautiful new road, and it looks like they did a great job on it!! I'm sure it will help Savannah Port truckers immensely, and many others as well. 

The new GA SR 204/King George Blvd interchange also looks wonderful. I had heard that that intersection had some severe traffic problems, and that this new interchange was definitely badly needed. 

And thank you for the pictures from Macon as well - that project is coming along quite nicely! 

[freebrickproductions]

Interstate 16/Interstate 75 Interchange Reconstruction Project-Macon by brandon walker, on Flickr

Press F to pay respects.

But in all seriousness, great photos y'all! Seems like GA has a lot of major projects underway right now.

[afguy]

While driving around the Cumberland area today, I spotted a new electronic message sign that had been installed on Cumberland Parkway. Usually, things like this wouldn't catch my eye but this one was different, it had the shields displayed on the sign which is new for Georgia.

Cumberland Parkway by brandon walker, on Flickr

[Georgia]

yea, they did the same for the display on Spring Rd in that general area too.
It shows times to 400 and 85 on 285E.

[Tomahawkin]

Cool, I'm curious to see what the toll rate will be from the Cobb cloverleaf to the end of 575 during peak hours of traffic? It seems to be around 15 bucks one way on the 85 corridor during peak hours? Correct me if I'm wrong?

[Eth]

I think that now makes the 4th style of VMS in active use in the Atlanta area. Recently (last 3-4 months?) I noticed that there were now some, still monochrome, using text that looks like a reasonable facsimile of Series D as opposed to the older-style text previously in use. This is the first multicolored one of any sort I've seen here.

[Tomahawkin]

I think there are some being installed on 575 but don't quote me on that. There is speculation that in the future ads will be used on those as well much like the large electronic ads you see on the sides of the interstate. It wouldn't surprise me at all if that happens in 5 years, seeing a VMS With a ad attached to it or sponsored by a corporation

[adventurernumber1]

While driving around the Cumberland area today, I spotted a new electronic message sign that had been installed on Cumberland Parkway. Usually, things like this wouldn't catch my eye but this one was different, it had the shields displayed on the sign which is new for Georgia.

Cumberland Parkway by brandon walker, on Flickr

I cannot describe in words how mesmerizing that thing is. I don't think I have ever seen a style of VMS like that before - I hope they increase the usage of these, because they are so incredibly cool. I love the different colors, the Interstate Shields, and just about everything about it. I am glad to see that it looks like these beautiful things are starting to pop up in the Atlanta area. Thanks for the picture and info!! 

[Tomahawkin]

I think they are like that in the Miami Area as well. Found out this morning that the 75/575 toll lane expansion project should be completed around labor day of this year...I wonder what the next toll project will be for 2019 and beyond???

[Bobby5280]

It's too bad the graphics still look pretty crude with their hard pixel edges. Anti-aliased graphics would look far better. Most LED-based variable message displays have custom designed controllers and message software. The software often uses proprietary pixel-based fonts that are also built into the sign's controller; the fonts just have hard edges. Some of these applications will allow use of Windows system fonts in messages, but those get turned into the same jaggy nonsense.

For nice looking lettering, logos, etc on LED signs the user will typically have to create images in other graphics programs (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, CorelDRAW, etc) and export still images or video files in the same pixel layout as the sign.

[Eth]

It's too bad the graphics still look pretty crude with their hard pixel edges. Anti-aliased graphics would look far better. Most LED-based variable message displays have custom designed controllers and message software. The software often uses proprietary pixel-based fonts that are also built into the sign's controller; the fonts just have hard edges. Some of these applications will allow use of Windows system fonts in messages, but those get turned into the same jaggy nonsense.

For nice looking lettering, logos, etc on LED signs the user will typically have to create images in other graphics programs (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, CorelDRAW, etc) and export still images or video files in the same pixel layout as the sign.

What's interesting is that here, it looks like the numbers inside the shields are anti-aliased, but the edges of the shields aren't. This seems like it should be a solvable issue.

[Bobby5280]

I think it's a matter of the message software supporting levels of transparency and layered objects. 

[afguy]

I'm currently in Savannah and snapped a photo of a new sign gantry GDOT placed along I-16 East in Pooler. GDOT is also replacing the overhead signs along I-16 in Savannah.
Interstate 16 East-Pooler by brandon walker, on Flickr

[afguy]

GDOT is planning to convert the I-75/SR 20/81 interchange in Henry County into a DDI. It would be the first on the southside...
http://www.dot.ga.gov/AboutGeorgia/Pages/GDOTAnnouncementDetails.aspx?postID=634

[adventurernumber1]

GDOT is planning to convert the I-75/SR 20/81 interchange in Henry County into a DDI. It would be the first on the southside...
http://www.dot.ga.gov/AboutGeorgia/Pages/GDOTAnnouncementDetails.aspx?postID=634

I am very excited to hear the news of this possibility, and I definitely think that this could be a good thing, as I believe that exit might be pretty busy indeed. It really is interesting to see all these Diverging Diamond Interchanges popping up all over the Atlanta Metro Area, and it is exciting. I think that they'll just keep on coming in.