In the wake of last year's deadly HOV exit bus crash on I-75 in Atlanta, and as per the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) recommendations, Georgia DOT (GDOT) will be replacing all HOV exit signs.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), GDOT has put out a bid request to prospective contractors to design and install the new signs. GDOT hopes to have a vendor on board starting August 1st and for the new signs to be installed at all HOV exits by March 31, 2010. Please click here to read the article.

While I cannot find GDOT's proposed new design as per the AJC article, I envision the signs to look like regular big green signs, but containing the HOV diamond. Here are 2 examples from the FHWA Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)...

- Example of Signing for a Direct Access Ramp to an HOV Lane from a Local Street

- Example of Signing for a Direct Access Ramp between HOV Lanes on Separate Freeways

While, according to the AJC article, GDOT was under a "strict deadline" at the time of placements of the existing white HOV signs, I hope that, for the sake of the driving public's safety (including those "out-of-towners" who may otherwise be unfamiliar with Atlanta's highways), GDOT will take the time to do it right.

As a roadgeek, I do look forward to seeing the new HOV exit signs.

And finally, y'all...

Tonight (Saturday, July 19, 2008) at 9:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time, I will be doing another 30-minute episode of my "GRG On BTR" talkshow, where I'll be talking about the latest news on the new I-85 and GA 400 ramp meters, "Peachtrees", as well as the HOV exit signs. I hope you will tune in to listen and thank you in advance for doing so.

For podcasts of prior "GRG On BTR" episodes....

-"GRG On BTR" Website (MP3)

-"The Georgia Road Geek" on iTunes (NOTE: iTunes must be installed on your computer for this URL to work.)

That's it for now. Thanks for visiting and reading, and please come back again.

 

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