Ga. 316 needs keep lawmakers pushing improvements (Atlanta, Gainesville: house, school, living in)

[Airforceguy]

This highway should have been made a limited-access facility decades ago. This is a project that should be included in the governors mobility plan...

The congestion and fatalities along Ga. 316 between Athens and Duluth have made improving the 40-mile highway a top priority for legislators from Clarke, Oconee, Barrow and Gwinnett counties. The legislative delegations from the three counties jointly backed a white paper this week listing reasons for making the road a limited-access highway its entire length so that intersecting roads would cross via an overpass.

“The critical infrastructure of (State Route) 316 has been ignored to the detriment of the economic interests of the region and the safety of its citizens and visitors,” said the paper dated Thursday.

Rep. Regina Quick, R-Athens, and Rep. Spencer Frye, D-Athens, had their staffs work together on the paper for presentation Thursday to the House Transportation Committee. It was timed for the committee’s vote on a 10-year plan required by last year’s road-funding bill. The committee ultimately approved the plan unanimously, but not before Rep. Valerie Clark, R-Lawrenceville, brought up the Ga. 316 concerns.


Now the plan goes to the House Appropriations Committee which must approve the department’s budget.

Quick said Friday she remains insistent that every intersection on the highway be upgraded.

“The citizens affected by 316 deserve results after a half-century of broken promises by GDOT. Transportation dollars should be focused on needs, not wants and selected projects should be based on identifiable criteria,” she said.

According to the paper, the origin of the highway was a decision in 1959 by then-Gov. Ernest Vandiver to divert the route of the planned Interstate 85 toward his home of Franklin County, a stretch that now bears his name. At the time, he promised equivalent access for Athens and Gainesville.

While Gainesville is connected to I-85 by I-985, the road to the Classic City is still dotted with intersections and stoplights. The paper details the 31 fatalities on Ga. 316 since it opened in 1995 and the roughly 600 crashes that occur in the average year.

So far, 5 miles of Ga. 316 in Gwinnett County are limited access.

The latest list from the Transportation Department includes 17 projects at intersections across all three counties over the next 10 years described as “interchange,” “ramp” and “grade separation” which are part of a limited-access design.

But Rep. Buzz Brockway, R-Lawrenceville, attended Thursday’s committee meeting and came away frustrated.

“Living in Lawrenceville, I’ve personally seen accidents and witnessed many close calls on Hwy 316,” he said. “I hope the House and Senate modify the DOT’s 10-year plan to make 316 completely limited access - not just portions of it as the plan currently does.”

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[sedimenjerry]

That road is flat out dangerous. I hate driving on it. Just a while back there were the brothers on their way to school that got killed in a wreck. They need to at least take care of the most dangerous intersections.

[primaltech]

Making it full fledged limited access expressway all the way to Athens would be a big growth benefit to both Athens and Lawrenceville, and everything between the two. And to a smaller degree, Atlanta.

[Born 2 Roll]

Of course, they could get the entire road converted to a controlled-access superhighway much more quickly if they paid for it with tolls....But no one wants tolls on GA 316.

Which it is a shame that no one wants tolls on GA 316 because the safety improvements that everyone seems to desire could have paid for decades ago....That instead of the current approach of waiting for money to fall out of the sky.

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

This highway should have been made a limited-access facility decades ago. This is a project that should be included in the governors mobility plan...

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Originally Posted by primaltech

Making it full fledged limited access expressway all the way to Athens would be a big growth benefit to both Athens and Lawrenceville, and everything between the two. And to a smaller degree, Atlanta.

Upgrading Georgia State Route 316 to a freeway, specifically to an interstate highway, from Interstate 85 to Athens-Clark County, is gradually being realized.

It would be nice to see a flyover from Interstate 85 southbound to Georgia State Route 316 eastbound without having to use Boggs Road and deal with local traffic.

[demonta4]

Was 78 supposed to be a freeway to Athens. Speaking of these what other freeways were there supposed to be in Atlanta? I know Freedom Pkwy and the extended 675. Was langford supposed to be longer? What about South Fulton Pkwy and Tara Blvd.

[primaltech]

I'd like to see State Route 20 be upgraded to a 4-lane major arterial parkway, like it is planned to be from Canton to Cumming, except for its entire length, all the way from Cartersville to Hampton, in a half-circle around the perimeter, connecting all the highways.

That could be a good replacement for the cancelled outer perimeter and 'Northern Arc' highways. Wouldn't be limited access, but could still potentially get some shipping trucks and a chunk of cars off of the way overtaxed 285 top end.

The Gwinnett County section is I believe the only section of SR 20 that is 4 lanes right now.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by Born 2 Roll

Of course, they could get the entire road converted to a controlled-access superhighway much more quickly if they paid for it with tolls....But no one wants tolls on GA 316.

Which it is a shame that no one wants tolls on GA 316 because the safety improvements that everyone seems to desire could have paid for decades ago....That instead of the current approach of waiting for money to fall out of the sky.

A tolled highway from Gwinnett to Athens is not a bad idea. It would give Athens the long-needed freeway-only connection to Atlanta.

Give them this and a regional rail connection to Atlanta, and they'll be set.

[sedimenjerry]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

It would be nice to see a flyover from Interstate 85 southbound to Georgia State Route 316 eastbound without having to use Boggs Road and deal with local traffic.

YES. I would use it quite frequently. It wouldn't be too bad now if they would just get the damn light fixed. The wait time is absurd most of the time. Sometimes you have sit through a light or two while there's a trickle of traffic on Boggs.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by demonta4

Was 78 supposed to be a freeway to Athens. Speaking of these what other freeways were there supposed to be in Atlanta? I know Freedom Pkwy and the extended 675. Was langford supposed to be longer? What about South Fulton Pkwy and Tara Blvd.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BQx6UfdKd9...0_1981gdot.jpg



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