172 replies to this topic

[Pillsbury]

If someone can just build an interstate to get me from Augusta to Hilton Head without going through all these scary little towns I'd be happy.

[andremurra]

Id be happy with an interstate that goes nowhere, perhaps from Metter, GA looping around Statesboro and reconnecting to I-16 on the east end of Bulloch County. This city desperately needs an interstate connection. Of course, I would prefer an interstate that actually does go somewhere.

[roads-scholar]

I'd like to see an I-85 spur route to Athens and Gainesville running parallel to US-441.

[LizellaJacket]

I-3 would have a negative effect on the North Ga mountains.  Send it through the upstate of South Carolina, not through the pristine Ga Mountains.

[912]

LizellaJacket, on Sep 17 2006, 03:18 PM, said:

I-3 would have a negative effect on the North Ga mountains.  Send it through the upstate of South Carolina, not through the pristine Ga Mountains.

Umm...I'm sure some folks in the pristine SC mountains may feel differently.  But, I do agree it should be sent towards Greenville.

[GSP Tiger]

LizellaJacket, on Sep 17 2006, 04:18 PM, said:

I-3 would have a negative effect on the North Ga mountains.  Send it through the upstate of South Carolina, not through the pristine Ga Mountains.

Via the proposed I-3 or I-24's eastern extention, another interstate will be coming through north Georgia's mountains.  A route with minimal environmental impact and economic growth to these towns is carefully under consdieration.

Is US-441 supposed to be upgraded to a limited access highway between Athens and Gainesville with a bypass around Commerce?

[poohsfolks]

BoDragon, on Sep 20 2006, 11:40 PM, said:

Is US-441 supposed to be upgraded to a limited access highway between Athens and Gainesville with a bypass around Commerce?

All of US 441 is slated to be converted to a four lane highway with at-grade intersections.  It will not be limited access.  The bypass around Commerce is finished, and work is underway on 441 south from the Commerce Bypass to the Clarke County Line.  

For more on the routing and construction status of the entire project, you can check out GDOT's fact sheet for US 441.

[jungletobacco]

DaGABoyStinger, on Jun 7 2005, 11:14 PM, said:

I have to admit, I am a bit worried about what two more interstates will do to the AUG.  We will have just as many different Interstates as ATL, with a perimeter to match.  And BTW, I done some map studies of the area, and since I'm from Augusta South, I pretty much know it's development patterns fairly well.  Which brings to me this question.  Even if we do get these two interstates, How do they plan to intersect them with Bobby Jones (I-520)?  And without going through neighborhoods or disrupting already settled highways?  And another thing.  How in the world are they going to take I-3 PAST where I-520 ends through I-20 and through Evans and Martinez.  They sure can't extend it through the jungles of developement and traffic in that part of town. And what about inside Bobby Jones?  will the central city and downtown still be shut off from connectable freeway access?

Don't get me wrong, the idea is great, and in fact I think it is absolutely necessary for us to connect to other cities.  My concern is just for feasibility of placement once you get to the Augusta area.  I don't think our development patterns (especially in South Augusta) have prepared us for such an addition.  And anyone knows, a REAL interstate can potentially cover a huge area, unlike other highways.  I'm not expecting answers to these questions from anybody, just something to ponder, but feel free to speculate.

run it threw the augusta downtown, which needs to be re-done by the....going east ....running along the canal which is perfect and once its in the sanbarfary area...or what its call.......it will be smooth sailing from there..it will be used by the south augustain often....problem solve you augusta people worry too much

[ATLman1]

Does anyone know the chance of these interstates being built? If they are going to be built, when is construction going to begin?

[aboutmetro]

Spartan, on Jul 24 2004, 12:38 PM, said:

That sounds like a good plan to help these areas. I have family that live in South Georgia, so I travel through these area alot. I think that this would help tremendously. An interstate from Greenville to Augusta to Tallahassee would help alot too.

There are alot of excellent reasons to support these new interstates. Mostly, the economic impact they'd bring to the rest of GA, and even the southeast... I recently received a map pic in a mass e-mail to people in my industry. It envisions extending I-22 from Birmingham to Brunswick.  I-14 is there along with extending I-81 south from TN to FL using i-185 through Columbus. Living in the Valley area on both sides of the GA/AL border, I can support all of this.

The way these are routed, it gets back to the original design of Interstates to connect urban areas without tearing through the center and causing big congestion issues. Blog Promotes SE Interstates

[aboutmetro]

BoDragon, on Sep 20 2006, 11:40 PM, said:

Via the proposed I-3 or I-24's eastern extention, another interstate will be coming through north Georgia's mountains.  A route with minimal environmental impact and economic growth to these towns is carefully under consdieration.

Is US-441 supposed to be upgraded to a limited access highway between Athens and Gainesville with a bypass around Commerce?

There's this blog that promotes new Southeastern Interestates and discusses extending I-30 from Little Rock through Huntsville, AL and Rome, GA across to Augusta and even ending at Hilton Head, SC. I-30 Extension
What I really like about it is it gets an Interstate across North GA without actually going directly into the mountains. It also looks like it gets north of some of the exurban Atlanta areas that some on this post have discussed. But what I love is it picks up metro areas (Rome, Huntsville) that aren't even on the Interestate system yet and connects them to important urban areas like Atlanta.

[aboutmetro]

Pillsbury, on Aug 31 2006, 05:18 PM, said:

If someone can just build an interstate to get me from Augusta to Hilton Head without going through all these scary little towns I'd be happy.

Check out the proposed I-30 (replacing controversial I-3)...  now looking at it with the I-14 south Augusta route, it creates a kind of southern Augusta metro perimeter around Ft. Gordon. I know Columbus would really like a Ft. Benning bypass (Maybe I-222???) to get to the southern metro area. How would that be in Augusta?

[ATLman1]

This is amazing! Columbus would have 4 interstates going through it! That is more than Atlanta! I can't even imagine how big Columbus would grow to if this happens!

[aboutmetro]

ATLman1, on Jul 31 2007, 02:18 PM, said:

This is amazing! Columbus would have 4 interstates going through it! That is more than Atlanta! I can't even imagine how big Columbus would grow to if this happens!

I guess so...  Although I think that's 3 Interstates (I-22, I-14, & I-81 (taking the place of I-185) - 222 looks like a loop around Ft. Benning using segments of I-22 and I-14.

[ATLman1]

aboutmetro, on Jul 31 2007, 03:08 PM, said:

I guess so...  Although I think that's 3 Interstates (I-22, I-14, & I-81 (taking the place of I-185) - 222 looks like a loop around Ft. Benning using segments of I-22 and I-14.

You are right, I-222 wouldn't be considered. That is still a lot though. This would be amazing for the Columbus metro area.

[Spartan]

The SC portion of that map is way wrong. This is clearly a Columbus-centric group, or the deep south if nothing else. But I like the idea of 22, 14, and 81. Those are all logical places for an interstate. particularly 14 and 22. I like conencting Columbus and Albany to the Coast, and I still think that the Fall line highway would be the best thing that could happen to Georgia. I hope that one is a priority for GDOT.

[aboutmetro]

Spartan, on Jul 31 2007, 07:23 PM, said:

The SC portion of that map is way wrong. This is clearly a Columbus-centric group, or the deep south if nothing else. But I like the idea of 22, 14, and 81. Those are all logical places for an interstate. particularly 14 and 22. I like conencting Columbus and Albany to the Coast, and I still think that the Fall line highway would be the best thing that could happen to Georgia. I hope that one is a priority for GDOT.

That map does look 'Columbus Centric', but that's just one of the maps of new Interestates proposed...

A funding mechanism idea from London and Paris.  

If I-30 were build, along with an I-81 extension south through west GA, and if I-16 were extended west south of Atlanta, all of this would effectively create a mega-loop around ATL. Then any traffic on 20, 85 and 75 coming inside the mega-loop toward Atlanta, would have tolls for access to Atlanta.  That would help fund the outer perimeter and discourage (thru traffic). Additional tolls would be installed for suburban commuter traffic coming from inside 285 into DT, MT, etc to fund Marta expansions. Atlanta is well in position to do this without harming its economy.

[109investments]

Im worried about GADOT doing projects the state needs like adding a few lanes here and adding a new road there... but these new interstates will cost big time bucks.. I see the need, but who is paying for it? GA? or is there US funding for these interstates.... if its a portion by Georgia... good luck ill say.. GADOT is in a problem of its own, having projects that are needed now are so backed up ... its insane.......

btw, Id rather see the I-4 come into play, the route from Knoxville, TN to Augusta, GA to Savannah, GA ..... Augusta and Savannah need to come into play alot more.....the cities have a bigger impact on Georgia as a whole ....

Edited by 109investments, 04 August 2007 - 03:05 PM.

[mitchella81]

aboutmetro, on Jul 31 2007, 10:55 AM, said:

There are alot of excellent reasons to support these new interstates. Mostly, the economic impact they'd bring to the rest of GA, and even the southeast... I recently received a map pic in a mass e-mail to people in my industry. It envisions extending I-22 from Birmingham to Brunswick.  I-14 is there along with extending I-81 south from TN to FL using i-185 through Columbus. Living in the Valley area on both sides of the GA/AL border, I can support all of this.

The way these are routed, it gets back to the original design of Interstates to connect urban areas without tearing through the center and causing big congestion issues. Blog Promotes SE Interstates

I really do see this as overkill for the Columbus area. I think the I-14 is a great idea it would be a faster route when heading toward the eastcoast and also probaly relieve some of the traffic Metro Atlanta has on that east/west  routes. Extending 185 to Tallahassee which was put before the state earlier this year is also good. Its a faster route for people to get to the panhandle beaches, as well as the tourist/travel dollars would really benifit the poorer counties of southwest georgia. but I-81 extension is a waste of money as well as 222 and 22. Traffic in Columbus is already get bad and the addition of 30,000+ people to the city population over the next 5 years is only making it worse. Imagine what 3 1/2 major interstates would do to the city. I say just a main east west route and a north south route are neccessary. a bypass is not needed as of yet maybe 20-30 years down the line. Has anyone heard anything on the status of I-3 & I-14 lately last i heard was in march of 2005 when they said Congress had approved the funds for the study of the routes. Anything since then?

Edited by mitchella81, 15 August 2007 - 08:46 AM.

[gah]

mitchella81, on Aug 15 2007, 09:43 AM, said:

I really do see this as overkill for the Columbus area. I think the I-14 is a great idea it would be a faster route when heading toward the eastcoast and also probaly relieve some of the traffic Metro Atlanta has on that east/west  routes. Extending 185 to Tallahassee which was put before the state earlier this year is also good. Its a faster route for people to get to the panhandle beaches, as well as the tourist/travel dollars would really benifit the poorer counties of southwest georgia. but I-81 extension is a waste of money as well as 222 and 22. Traffic in Columbus is already get bad and the addition of 30,000+ people to the city population over the next 5 years is only making it worse. Imagine what 3 1/2 major interstates would do to the city. I say just a main east west route and a north south route are neccessary. a bypass is not needed as of yet maybe 20-30 years down the line. Has anyone heard anything on the status of I-3 & I-14 lately last i heard was in march of 2005 when they said Congress had approved the funds for the study of the routes. Anything since then?

Actually, I think that the skeleton of 22 and 222 are pretty much already in place.  The highway between B'ham and Columbus is almost entirely fourlaned, as is Corridor Z from Columbus to Albany/Brunswick.   If 22 and 222 followed that existing route, then all that would have to be done is to bring the roads to interstate standards.  Certainly less costly than acquiring entirely new route thru condemnation.  

I-81 is not only beneficial to Columbus -- it also relieves alot of the traffic that is funneled thru Atlanta.  Thus, it could be considered as a boon to traffic in the Metro, as well as to W Ga.