That new I-85 interchange near Buford could be under construction soon (Atlanta: neighborhoods, contractors)

[Airforceguy]

it's about time they started work on this project...

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to accept just over $20 million in federal and state grants to pay for construction of the interchange, which is strategically positioned midway between the oft-congested Ga. 20 and Hamilton Mill Road access points. The commission then awarded the construction contract to E.R. Snell Contractors.

https://www.ajc.com/news/local/that-...Uo9MRGIMxCLWK/

[cqholt]

Just goes to show that the idea of a Northern Arc with minimal interchanges would not have stayed that way for long.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

it's about time they started work on this project...


https://www.ajc.com/news/local/that-...Uo9MRGIMxCLWK/

This should relieve some traffic from Highway 20.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Just goes to show that the idea of a Northern Arc with minimal interchanges would not have stayed that way for long.

Don't know why that is relevant to I-85. There was never any intention to limit interchanges.

I also think the suggestion, even by proponents, of a Northern Arc with minimal interchanges was stupid. The biggest benefit would be to the people living there to get from suburb to suburb, not the truckers. An East and West outer loop would more benefit the thru traffic.

[primaltech]

This will finally be the ONE project in Mall of GA area's history (since '99), that might help with the traffic congestion a bit.

[JMatl]

Originally Posted by bu2

I also think the suggestion, even by proponents, of a Northern Arc with minimal interchanges was stupid. The biggest benefit would be to the people living there to get from suburb to suburb, not the truckers. An East and West outer loop would more benefit the thru traffic.

Then you are obviously okay with destroying the foothills with mind numbing sprawl. Don't hold your breath, this isn't Houston and we don't think this way here.

[Need4Camaro]

I personally think that interchange is needed, largely due to the presence of Mall of GA and GA-20 being a major (and overloaded) artery servicing pretty much the entire north metro with alot of cross commuting traffic forced to funnel through the commercial district of Mall of GA.

That will give alternative means of reaching Mall of GA other than GA-20 and will also give locals in Lawrenceville (which is technically east of I-85 at this point) a means of reaching Old Peachtree Rd and the residential neighborhoods in that area without getting off at GA-20.

One should also note that while this interchange has been in the books for several years now, I believe its plans were mainly only conceived to assist GA-20. If a tolled and zone controlled outer perimeter were to be designed it most likely would have avoided commercial districts like this (assuming they designed it as a true bypass and not as a engine to accelerate development).. assuming that is true and it avoided development there would likely be no need for additional interchanges such as the one seen here.

Looking at the reality of the matter that area was severely under planned when it came to the conception of that Mall as there is only one way in and one way out unless you're local to it... so to me it is needed at this point.

Originally Posted by bu2

I also think the suggestion, even by proponents, of a Northern Arc with minimal interchanges was stupid. The biggest benefit would be to the people living there to get from suburb to suburb, not the truckers. An East and West outer loop would more benefit the thru traffic.

&

Originally Posted by JMatl

Then you are obviously okay with destroying the foothills with mind numbing sprawl. Don't hold your breath, this isn't Houston and we don't think this way here.

Something I have been finding myself wondering lately is what would happen if Houston or DFW had comparable geographic features as seen in foothills of the Blue Ridge area...and I'm beginning to believe the same thing would happen as seen in Atlanta's north metro. I believe part of what makes Texas so capable of building out so many highways is that there isnt much in the way in comparison to North Georgia to detur freeway construction. They definitely also have NIMBYism but we are talking different levels when comparing them to the more open and flat areas of Texas to the wooded and environmentally sensitive areas of the Blueridge, and infact I actually would not be surprised if the lash back in Texas might even be greater than Atlanta if the area was the only one of its type in the state.

The reason being is Austin's western suburbs is a fairly scenic area... they built 3/4ths of a bypass but even with the Texan mindset they refuse to touch that area and infact many highway projects in Austin were canceled or postponed such as 45 in the southern belt of Austin which faced several lawsuits and was only recently conceived after delivering it without access roads, as a result, it looks more like Ronald Reagan Pkwy (in terms of size) than a super sized Texan Freeway...

So I am not sure that Texas is really all about paving their way to oblivion but more so that there is a tremendous geographical difference between Texas and Georgia that severely effects the political decisions that can and cannot pass in terms of these roads.

[DJDeadParrot]

Originally Posted by JMatl

Then you are obviously okay with destroying the foothills with mind numbing sprawl. Don't hold your breath, this isn't Houston and we don't think this way here.

Re-read what bu2 said; they're not advocating in favor of the northern arc. They're merely commenting on what those in favor of the road were pushing for.

As for this new exit, it sure is long overdue, especially for the mall traffic that comes in from northeast Georgia. But glad to hear that its finally, actually, going to happen.

[JMatl]

Originally Posted by DJDeadParrot

Re-read what bu2 said; they're not advocating in favor of the northern arc. They're merely commenting on what those in favor of the road were pushing for.

As for this new exit, it sure is long overdue, especially for the mall traffic that comes in from northeast Georgia. But glad to hear that its finally, actually, going to happen.

He was clearly stating it was 'stupid' to hamstring the Outer Perimeter with limited exits as originally proposed. There was no grey area, and the message clearly came through as intended.

[Craziaskowboi]

After this, the next order of business should be extending Sugarloaf Parkway north from GA 316 to the Mall of Georgia, and building more interchanges on GA 316 between Lawrenceville and Winder.