State plans to pay for truck lanes for Interstate 75 (Atlanta: sales, hotel)

[Airforceguy]

These truck only lanes will run from the I-475 North terminus in southern Monroe County to S.R. 155 in Henry County. IMO these lanes will certainly help with the expected increase in truck traffic from the port....

Georgia plans to build separate lanes for large trucks on Interstate 75 between Macon and exit 155 in McDonough as part of the state's transportation plan.

The new lanes will provide "separation for trucks from the normal passenger cars. So that's definitely a safety improvement, that's definitely a mobility improvement," Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry said Tuesday.

McMurry was speaking at a news conference led by Republican Gov. Nathan Deal to unveil the list of projects that will be funded by several tax and fee changes made last year.

Deal said the projects will reduce congestion and make Georgia's roads safer.

The Legislature passed a new $5 fee per night on hotel and motel stays and new charges for alternative fuel vehicles. Lawmakers also changed the gasoline tax to a tax on volume of gas instead of the sales price, resulting in a rise of five to six cents a gallon when the law went into effect.

Some Republicans called it a big tax increase and refused to vote for it. The bill that contained all the changes, House Bill 170, only passed after contentious debate and with some Democrat support.

The measures in House Bill 170 are expected to raise about $700 million for transportation in the fiscal year that ends in July, McMurry said. The following year, the measures are projected to raise about $830 million.

Read more here: State plans to pay for truck lanes for Interstate 75 | The Telegraph

State plans to pay for truck lanes for Interstate 75 | The Telegraph

[Airforceguy]

While I'm glad GDOT is adding these lanes and rebuilding the I-16/I-75 interchange in Downtown Macon, it boggles my mind that the stretch between Arkwright Rd and the 475 north terminus will remain 4 lanes. IMO, GDOT needs to widen that 8 mile stretch in North Macon/Southern Monroe Counties. There's a lot of growth happening in that area and the growth of freight traffic doesn't help. Could you imagine the traffic nightmare that will create squeezing 4/5 lanes of traffic coming south from Atlanta into 2 lanes! GDOT needs to get on the ball and widen that section ASAP.

[midgeorgiaman]

Foresight and the GDOT...surely you jest. I agree with you but....not surprising.

[demonta4]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

While I'm glad GDOT is adding these lanes and rebuilding the I-16/I-75 interchange in Downtown Macon, it boggles my mind that the stretch between Arkwright Rd and the 475 north terminus will remain 4 lanes. IMO, GDOT needs to widen that 8 mile stretch in North Macon/Southern Monroe Counties. There's a lot of growth happening in that area and the growth of freight traffic doesn't help. Could you imagine the traffic nightmare that will create squeezing 4/5 lanes of traffic coming south from Atlanta into 2 lanes! GDOT needs to get on the ball and widen that section ASAP.

I went through Macon this weekend and was surprised about the 2 lane situation. I figured it's because most wouldn't be traveling through Macon and would be using 475 and intown traffic didn't seem that bad on 75.

[Airforceguy]

While it is true that most of the traffic coming thru the Macon area will use 475, you do have a lot in North Macon/Bibb around the Bass Road/Riverside Drive area. Also with the growth of freight traffic between Atlanta and Savannah traffic will slowly but surely get worse in the area.