It pays to get e-mail updates from Georgia newspaper websites... especially when you're a roadgeek like me.

For the past few months, I have received e-mail alerts from the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, and this morning's e-mail had a couple of articles on road-related matters on I-185 in Columbus and US 80/AL 8 in Phenix City.

NEW BGS ON I-185 (OR "COLUMBUS GETS SOME RESPECT FROM GDOT")

Just this week, after many a phone call from their local chamber of commerce's president, Georgia DOT puts a new big green sign (BGS) on I-185 southbound informing motorists that the next 7 exits will take you into Columbus proper.

Please click here to read the article.

The article seemingly contradicted itself regarding the placement of this new BGS.

"The latest can be seen just north of exit 14 as you are coming into Columbus on Interstate 185."

I-185 Exit 14 is Smith Road, located right at the Muscogee/Harris County line.

However, in the same article, there was a picture of the new BGS. I love seeing (and especially taking) pictures of such items, but the caption under the picture read as follows...

"The new sign on Interstate 185 South just south of the Welcome Center exit alerts people that the next seven exits are for Columbus."

Having traveled I-185 several times, and "clinched" it in the fall of 2006, I know that the welcome center is at Exit 12 (Williams Road), not Exit 14. That would put the sign south of Exit 12.

Admittedly, I haven't been down I-185 since last Memorial Day weekend, but one of those above statements is apparently wrong.

Here is the list of I-185 exits for Columbus (BGS "control cities" in parentheses/italics)...

US 27/280/SR 1/520 / Victory Drive (A - Columbus/Phenix City, B - Cusseta/Albany)	1A / B
St. Mary's Road (CR 2108)	3
Buena Vista Road (CR 2228)	4
SR 22 Spur / Macon Road	6
SR 85 /US 27 Alt. (A - Manchester, B - Columbus)	7A / B
Airport Thruway Road (CR 1425)	8
SR 22 / US 80/ North Columbus Bypass (Phenix City/Macon)	10

Source: Georgia Navigtor exit number list.

BTW, if you look at the Georgia Navigator's exit list for I-185, you will notice that, for Exits 7A and 7B, US 80 is still listed. However, in the late 1980s, US 80 was rerouted to the J.R. Allen Parkway (North Columbus Bypass) when the western portion of this freeway was extended into Alabama.

While we're at it, I think the new BGS should read "Columbus - Next 7 Interchanges" instead of "Exits".

Speaking of US 80, here's the next piece of road news....

NEW INTERCHANGE OPENS ON US 80 IN PHENIX CITY

According to another article in today's Columbus paper, Alabama DOT (ALDOT) has opened a new interchange on its section of the North Columbus Bypass (US 80/AL 8).

This new interchange is just across the Chattahoochee River from Georgia at Riverchase Drive. This now gives motorists access to downtown Phenix City from 2 exits before the freeway "dead-ends" at US 280/431/AL 1/38. Before this new interchange opened, motorists either had to use the Summerville Road exit or otherwise drive to the "dead-end" and go southbound, traveling around the periphery of Phenix City.

Please click here to read the article.

Did you notice Alabama's use of "Georgia freeway font" on the sign in the photo?

And finally, here's another "roadgeek tune"...



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

 

What did you think of this article?

Liked
Disliked
No Opinion