Last weekend, Mary and I were at a storytelling festival in Northeast Atlanta, so I was unable to post my normal weekly blog, but I'm baaaaack!!!

After a long delay, the Georgia DOT is getting back on track with the proposed US 411 Connector in Bartow County (GDOT Project EDS-500(5)).

The purpose of this connector will be to tie the US 411/GA 20 4-lane between Rome and US 41/GA 3 in Cartersville directly to I-75. Currently, Atlanta-to-Rome traffic must exit I-75 at GA 20 (Exit 290), proceed into downtown Cartersville to US 41/GA 3, then go northward to the trumpet interchange that takes routes GA 20 and US 411 onto the 4-lane to Rome. In other words, the current routing for travelers going between Rome and I-75 south to Atlanta is a little bit convoluted.

On February 12, 2008, GDOT will hold another "open house" on this project. For more information, please click here.

NOTE: If you happen to attend this event, then please feel free to send me an e-mail (webmaster at georgiaroadgeek dot com) and give me the "4-1-1" on the connector project.

What struck my mind was talk of project changes to reduce the cost of the project. Last plans were for the connector to be a 4-lane limited-access divided highway, with an interchange at US 411/GA 61. I don't know what will be changed, but I hope that the connector design will remain limited-access (preferably Interstate-standard) so that it would not turn into what US 19/GA 400 did from GA 369 northward... a mess!!!

As for the existing 4-lane US 411/GA 20 (formerly GA 344), I would look at purchasing the necessary right-of-way to convert this early-1960's era divided highway to full Interstate standards to the stack interchange where it meets US 27/GA 1/GA 53. Once this highway is converted, I would petition the Federal government to allow Georgia to give it an I-x75 designation similar to what North Carolina did with what is now I-795. Since this would be a spur route, I would give it either a 1, 3, 7, or 9. In fact, I would like for it to be I-375, since there are no Georgia 3-digit Interstates (3dI's) with a "3" prefix. I'm pretty certain that Rome and Floyd County would not mind one bit to have a direct Interstate connection to Atlanta for eased mobility, and I believe that GDOT has the opportunity to make it happen within the next 10 years. GDOT, if you're reading this, then let's get crackin' and make I-375 a reality for both Cartersville and the Romans!!! If you do so, then I'll gladly show up for the ribbon cutting!!!

And now, here's a documentary on the Atlanta Winter 2008 Roadmeet that I produced with the generous help of my fellow roadgeeks...

I also want to thank the blogmaster of Georgia On My Mind for including "The Georgia Road Geek" on the "Blogging Georgians" list.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading and watching and please come back often.

 

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