Background and Study Area The Office of Planning identified the need for such a study in its Fiscal Year 2007 Work Program to determine "if a freeway connecting Albany to the Interstate system was warranted." The study will identify transportation needs, examine potential alignments/corridors, and develop cost estimates for study-recommended improvements. The study area includes 32 counties in southwest Georgia located west of I-75, from the City of Columbus south to the Florida state line and west to the Alabama state line. Counties included in the study area are: Baker, Brooks, Calhoun, Chattahoochee, Clay, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marion, Miller, Mitchell, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Seminole, Stewart, Sumter, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Webster, and Worth. The study will investigate all of southwest Georgia and identify the various capacity and operational needs to improve the region’s access to the existing interstate system (I-75, I-185, and I-10).

Background

• The Office of Planning identified the need for such a study through its Fiscal Year 2007 Work Program to determine “if a freeway connecting Albany to the Interstate system was warranted” and identify needs, scan potential alignments/corridors, and develop cost estimates for study-recommended improvements.

• The study initiated its data collection phase in the late Fall, 2007. The study will conclude in Summer, 2009.

Study Objectives

The study is investigating all of Southwest Georgia and identifying all roadway capacity and operational needs to improve the region’s access to I-185, I-75 and I-10.

Study Elements (Completed)

• Data Collection - Existing and historic traffic data and transportation studies have been gathered and reviewed. Comprehensive Plans, land use, economic development and socio-economic data were included.

• Existing Conditions Evaluation – Work has been completed for current capacity and safety needs, as well as environmental constraints, economic development trends, local develop plans, and community benefits.

What’s Next?

• Future Year Conditions – Development of a regional travel model to predict future year travel conditions and needs is currently underway.

• Develop and Evaluate hypothetical new Interstate Scenarios – This work will occur later in the study to identify potential corridors, estimate potential costs, and calculate benefit-versus-cost (“B/C”) ratios for up to four potential Interstate alignments.

• Develop and Recommend Needed Improvements – Later in the study, it will identify recommended improvements which, in addition to a new Interstate facility, could include capacity and operations improvements to existing routes including an upgrade to Interstate or non-Interstate standards, intersection improvements, and new grade-separations of existing intersections.

Study’s Public Involvement and Outreach

Extensive public involvement is occurring. A Stakeholder group that functions in an advisory role has been established that includes locally-elected officials, appropriate local, state and Federal agencies, business and civic organizations, special interest and traditionally underserved groups.

The next round of meetings will be held in the 1st quarter of 2009. Detailed locations and times will be available on the study website at www.swgainterstate.com .

 

For additional information, please contact: Mr. Jabari Parker, GDOT Project Manager
GDOT Office of Planning, phone (404) 631-1791, email: japarker@dot.ga.gov