This morning, as I was checking out the Georgia DOT's Transportation Explorer (TREX) website, I found a proposed project to purchase access rights along US 411/GA 20 in Bartow County. This is listed as Project ID #0006669 by GDOT, the title being "Access Rights on US 411/SR 20 from Floyd County Line to US 41/SR 3".

The document notes the "tremendous growth" along US 411/GA 20, and, in particular, 2 proposed major developments, one being a 500-unit residential community and the other a "mixed-use" development, estimated to be completed in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

By 2032, the daily traffic volume is expected to increase to 37,500 vehicles per day. (I wonder if this is factoring in both current and future development and the possible completion of the US 411 Connector by that time?)

Currently, the estimated cost of this project to purchase rights-of-way is $59,202,000. With that in mind, and the fact that growth is already beginning to push into western Bartow County, I believe that it would behoove GDOT to be proactive and start planning and executing a full upgrade as soon as possible.

In the late 1980's, GDOT upgraded Peachtree Industrial Boulevard (GA 141) from I-285 in DeKalb County to Jimmy Carter Boulevard (GA 140) in Gwinnett County to full access control, but by the time that project was executed, there was already extreme growth along that particular corridor and traffic was suffering as a result. Can that happen to US 411/GA 20? Given the history of our region and it's growth, my answer is "YES!!!".

By looking at the data that GDOT has already collected and published in this particular project report, I see an opportunity for them to take a proactive approach and start budgeting, planning, and executing a project to upgrade US 411/GA 20 from its existing form, a 4-lane divided highway with surface crossings to a full-blown, Interstate-standard highway from Rome to I-75. I realize, however, that it would potentially cost tens-of-millions of taxpayer dollars to upgrade this stretch of road, but I firmly believe that, if given the the right design and build, it would be a major "return on investment". Otherwise, if the growth overwhelms the area such as it has already done along the US 19/GA 400 corridor from I-285 to Forsyth County, and with potentially rising costs, such a project could cost hundreds-of-millions in the future.

Folks, the proverbial "800-pound gorilla" is pushing into western Bartow County (and eventually to Rome) whether we like it or not, thus it is wise to plan and upgrade the infrastructure now, or else it will potentially cost more in terms of time, money, and aggravation to do it when the "gorilla" has taken up residence and has the run of the place.

Could US 411/GA 20 become a freeway? I don't know what GDOT's answer will be be, but mine it that US 411/GA 20 should become a freeway from Rome to I-75. GDOT, the Georgia General Assembly, and the Governor should seriously consider this for the ultimate benefit of the residents and the traveling public.

For GDOT's own report, go to the GDOT TREX website and search for Project ID #0006669 in Bartow County.

If you have any thoughts regarding this matter, then please feel free to post them as a comment to this blog or otherwise e-mail webmaster at georgiaroadgeek dot com.

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

        

 

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