Let's Leave I-85 Closed (Atlanta, Stone Mountain: credit, homes, neighborhoods)

[jsvh]

Ok, get over your heart attack. I know it is not really going to happen with today's mindset of most people.

But realize, this is the worst-case scenario for all those that say you can't just shut down highways or take away lanes in Atlanta.

This is one of the worst, if not the worst section of highway to lose in the city. It will be closed for months. There was no warning or opportunity for people and companies to plan a head and adjust their lives for this closure.

But you know what tomorrow and the coming days and months the sun will rise, people will still go to work and school. People will find alternatives to "needing" this section of highway. They will take transit, they will take other routes, they will work remotely, they will shift adjust.

It is too bad this was not closed as part of a planned, permanent closure because then you would have even more time for people to plan and find other options like relocating the work location, moving homes, or moving jobs.

So next time you have a panic attack about hearing about one lane being taken away to make a that area a better place to live, spend time, and to save lives just remember that one lane going away will be no where near as bad as what the city will deal with tomorrow and the coming months.

[MattCW]

So you're saying we should enjoy being stung by the wasp (a lane) because we aren't being bitten by the snake? (I-85). Yea, how about we avoid both, mmmkay?

[fieldm]

Hate to bring up MARTA but if Gwinnett, North Fulton and Cobb had MARTA rail this wouldnt be an issue

[-thomass]

Originally Posted by fieldm

Hate to bring up MARTA but if Gwinnett, North Fulton and Cobb had MARTA rail this wouldnt be an issue

Maybe this will be a good thing for Marta expansion lol

[arjay57]

There is precedent for leaving freeways un-rebuilt after they fall down.

The classic example is the Embarcadero Freeway in San Francisco, which was removed after it was damaged in the Loma Prieto earthquake.

In Seattle the Alaskan Way Viaduct was turned into a tunnel after it was damaged in a quake.

[primaltech]

ITP NIMBY's are partly to blame for this coming months-long nightmare gridlock situation on the I-85 and GA-400 corridors.

This metro area actually has very few freeways for its size and population. To their credit, GDOT anticipated and planned for this kind of thing decades ago, by planning other highways besides just a total reliance on I-85. GA-400 was supposed to continue on and connect with Freedom Parkway, I-20, Lakewood freeway, and 285 then continue on as I-675. Could have used that right about now, to bypass I-85.

The useless stubs that are the Stone Mountain Freeway and Freedom Parkway were supposed to connect with each other, as an alternate route in and out of the city for the northeast metro. I'm sure they'd appreciate having that right about now.

Gwinnett screwed up by not having MARTA years ago, and I bet they regret that right now. But you still need freeways, too.

[fieldm]

Originally Posted by -thomass

Maybe this will be a good thing for Marta expansion lol

It will be. Traffic is bad enough on 85. Now imagine it being closed

[unusualfire]

Originally Posted by -thomass

Maybe this will be a good thing for Marta expansion lol

You do realize they still have to get to the station? And it would not be enough parking to park and ride.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by unusualfire

You do realize they still have to get to the station? And it would not be enough parking to park and ride.

They can give the bus a try, or Uber, or Lyft, or have someone drop them off.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by primaltech

ITP NIMBY's are partly to blame for this coming months-long nightmare gridlock situation on the I-85 and GA-400 corridors.

This metro area actually has very few freeways for its size and population. To their credit, GDOT anticipated and planned for this kind of thing decades ago, by planning other highways besides just a total reliance on I-85. GA-400 was supposed to continue on and connect with Freedom Parkway, I-20, Lakewood freeway, and 285 then continue on as I-675. Could have used that right about now, to bypass I-85.

The useless stubs that are the Stone Mountain Freeway and Freedom Parkway were supposed to connect with each other, as an alternate route in and out of the city for the northeast metro. I'm sure they'd appreciate having that right about now.

Gwinnett screwed up by not having MARTA years ago, and I bet they regret that right now. But you still need freeways, too.

Eh, freeways are not a good answer for getting people around. I know you'll disagree, but what would have happened if the other freeways had been built is that we would have lost a collection of walkable neighborhoods, and traffic would have grown to fill all of them up as well.

We don't NEED more freeways, we NEED alternatives, both in the way we move around and in the way we live, that makes far more efficient use of our limited space.