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Published Thursday, July 29, 2010 in Local
Photo by Bob Fraley
The fourth lane on I-85 won’t be opened to traffic just yet. Each is currently striped as an emergency lane, as seen in this view from the Palmetto-Tyrone Road overpass.
4th lane on I-85 in Coweta delayed
The Newnan Times-Herald
Plans are to eventually open the new fourth lane on Interstate 85 between Fairburn and Newnan to traffic. For the moment, however, that fourth lane is being striped as an emergency lane. But it's only temporary, say Georgia Department of Transportation officials.
Many Cowetans have reacted negatively to the striping this week, as the multi-year I-85 rehab and widening project enters its final days.
The original plans for the interstate work included having the fourth lane -- which was built so there could be three travel lanes during construction -- striped as an emergency lane then becoming an HOV lane later on.
Though the I-85 project south of the Newnan exit at Bullsboro Drive was planned as a widening project, the northbound project wasn't. The reason for the construction was to replace aging lanes before they started to degrade.
But as the project went on, plans changed.
In fall 2009, Coweta County officials and the state Department of Transportation discussed the idea of opening the fourth lane for regular travel.
Most everyone liked the idea, and the Federal Highway Administration was asked for its permission. In March, the FHWA gave its blessing.
However, some environmental studies and approvals are still needed before the lane can be opened to traffic.
"The entire project was only modeled for three lanes," said Kimberly Larson, District Three spokeswoman for the Georgia DOT's Thomaston office. Studies will have to be done on air quality and noise abatement, she said.
"We have to go back through the process to get the fourth lane... all of those environmental things have got to be done," Larson said. "Once we can get all of those I's dotted, we'll go back out there, re-stripe it as a travel lane, and all four lanes will be open," she said. "We are pretty certain that everything is going to be fine to let us open up that fourth lane."
As for the rest of the project, it is set to be finished this weekend.
Larson said that crews will begin removing construction barrels on I-85-Northbound Friday morning. When they get to the end of the project, at Ga. Hwy. 74, they'll head back south. And once those barrels are removed, the speed limit will be raised.
The speed limit will be 70 mph in Coweta, and 65 in Fulton County -- the same as before construction began.
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Citation please Bubba. Can you feel yourself being marginalized?
Posted by Lg at 12:40 PM
I do believe the democrats approval rating are the lowest in history and the liberals messiah is 41 percent.
Don't think they are doing very well.
Posted by Bubba B Bad at 3:35 AM
Blue states have more problems then the red states.
I do believe the dems have been saying no for years even in 07 when Bush tried to pass legislation to rein in wall street and the housing that were and still are being run by democrats. The legislation was filibustered by the dems including obama.
Posted by Bubba B Bad at 3:33 AM
What planet are you on? Obama blames everything on Bush.
Obama thought it was more important to go on the view instead of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts.
Of course Obama would not make it as a scout. The require loyalty to country, integrity and you have to be a U.S citizen.
Posted by Bubba B Bad at 3:30 AM
Blue states dont have these problems with their roads. Blue states also dont have problems with their health care. The federal government is stepping in to help you mark. If you left ga to their own devices you would be standing on the plantation owners steps asking for permission to go to the doctor. This road problem is exactly what you get when you say no to everything you get inaction.
Posted by Lg at 12:55 PM
You see all the time how our government runs things but you want them to take full control of our health care ?
Posted by Mark at 11:35 AM
It WAS three lanes BEFORE!!!!!!
Posted by driving me crazy at 12:32 AM
The fourth lane will not increase volume, it just makes the existing volume move smoother. There is no aire quality impact. Stupid GDOT!
Posted by Joe at 9:14 PM
This is a state problem. You had your chance to vote these clowns out in the republican primary... you missed it.
Posted by Lg at 2:52 PM
What a fine example of Government inefficiency. Build the lane and then go back to see if it will be approved for use. We need to clean house in November!
Posted by Wendy at 2:33 PM
Air quality and noise abatement? For 2 more lanes when we have 6 already? Another good example of how unefficient and wasteful our government is.
Posted by Jim Van Riper at 8:37 AM
With the right lanes closed for more than a year, now that they shift the lanes over, they are they again having to close one of them off to traffic to do more work? they could not have done this before they shifted the traffic flow? I will never understand the Georgia DOT and their idea of work flow.
Posted by Greg G. at 6:00 AM
Just another way for the county or state workers to continue to milk the clock and run up the budget with payroll.
Posted by DW at 1:59 AM
Sooo the 4th lane built wont be open? Environmental impact on a lane already built? And I thought the state and local Governments where corrupt and inept where I moved from!! new heights of stupidity have been reached!!
Posted by 4 lanes to 3 lanes? at 1:40 AM
It is truly a shame that everything is blamed on President Obama. So he was on the View, big deal! American has embarassed itself by itself long before now. Remember Vietnam, Iraq, Katrina, the oil spill?
Posted by Wowee at 12:40 AM
Good Comment!! I also blame President Obama for this debacle. If he hadnt gone on the view this stupid roadwork would have been done back in 2008 like it should have been in the first place!!
Posted by Lg at 9:44 PM
It's EXACTLY what they were doing this morning...and although BC "thinks" the commute will be faster, rest assured the GSP and HEAT units will be sure that doesn't happen.
Posted by Ponsonby Britt at 9:28 PM
Let's see over 3 years of sitting in traffic jams, and now, you're telling me, it's going back to just the way it was before? No fourth lane? What a waste of my tax dollars!!!!
Posted by Driving Me Crazy at 8:36 PM
I don't think I have ever heard something so stupid. If you did not have permission, why build it? Like everyone else is saying, what are the going to do if they say no. Come back and tear the lane up? That is just silly.
Posted by Wendy at 8:21 PM
I am sorry, but please explain to me how in the world is this President Obama's fault? The last I checked this road construction project was going on BEFORE he got in office.
Posted by Johnny at 8:06 PM
So, we spent all the headaches of fighting traffic, accidents, injuries and fatalities and all we get out of this is NOTHING - no extra lanes? Before they can do the environmental study, they will have to file the paperwork to get the permit to file the paperwork. Ridiculous!
Posted by Brian at 7:41 PM
Its called obamanation,creating jobs.It was really sad to see him disgrace the office of the president going on such a show as the view,really sad!Nothing better to do than be concerned about crap like that.
Posted by Big Boy at 5:56 PM
that emergency lane will be a place for officers to sit in to watch for speeders.
But seriously.... 3 lanes is what it was before and it wasn't an issue. It will be fine.
I just hope they smooth out those HORRIBLE new lanes or no one with Coweta tags will be riding in them.
Posted by G at 5:26 PM
Not to hard to immagine these guy's sitting around thinking up all the ways they can milk this project to the very end.
Posted by Kirk Wilson at 3:53 PM
Just finish this project nightmare already!!!!! I'm tired of all the merging wrecks and traffic barrels and concrete barriers.
Posted by dodging traffic on 85 at 3:37 PM
Come on people...GET A LIFE!! The road as it sits (3 lanes) will be a major improvement for traffic flow. Thanks in advance GDOT for my faster commute this coming Monday morning!!
Posted by BC at 3:23 PM
I will definitely be glad when all of this is done. It feel like it has been going on forever.
Posted by CH at 2:36 PM
SHOCKER!
Posted by apple at 1:55 PM
Funny thing is that we have been driving next to median for two years while they were fixing the outside lanes. They didn't need a study back then, why now?
Posted by Tell the truth at 1:19 PM
Only the gov't would build something and then get the clearances after the fact. What are you going to do if the study proves it's not a good idea? Tear out the lane? Give me a break. Open the lane!
Posted by JL at 1:17 PM
Was the last three years of lane shifting not enough "research" to determine the feasibility of having four lanes as opposed to three? I would say that I'm surprised, but then I'm reminded that we're talking about the inept Georgia Department of Transportation here. Just wondering who holds the DOT responsible when they screw up? The taxpayers sure don't have a say. The Governor's Office or his "self appointed" Office of (sic) Highway Safety? Please. They're too busy generating revenue for their budget shortfall by doubling the cost of speeding tickets in the mess that the DOT created on I-85 South. It's a never ending cycle, and Sonny and his cronies should be ashamed.
Posted by Ponsonby Britt at 1:00 PM
The DOT completely dropped the ball on this one as the contractor was planning on striping and opening the 4th lane until they were informed GDOT had not even filed the paperwork for air permits. Let's see how many accidents occur because there is a "ghost" fourth lane available with a yellow strip separating it from heavy traffic flowing at 70 mph.
Posted by Mello at 12:28 PM
Having a fourth lane will not inherently generate more pollution nor noise, although it may encourage commerce growth and long-term traffic increase due to initial relaxed traffic stress. Sooo, is the DOT worried about maintaining red tape, or do they see value in long term attraction and growth? They should evaluate their priorities.
Posted by RyanH at 12:26 PM
What happens if these studies determine that it will adversely affect air quality and such? Will they then tear that lane up? Come on GDOT use some common sense and just open the lane.
Posted by Steve at 12:26 PM
This entire highway project has been nothing but a joke. They delayed it over and over just to keep a job. Here we go again. GDOT really doesn't care how many accidents this has caused, including loss of life.
Posted by Nancy at 12:08 PM
We need environmental studies to put stripes on road that we've already been using for years? Are you serious? This is a joke, right?
Elections have consequences...
Posted by JC at 11:51 AM
Why couldn't the DOT see that the 4th lane needed to be opened as a travel lane from the beginning? Everyone knows that traffic is bad on that stretch, so building a whole new lane and not opening it to traffic is absurd. As always, government is woefully inept.
Posted by Chris at 11:17 AM
Say it isnt so, another delay. For air quality and noise? If they open the 4th lane does it mean more traffic will travel the highway?? Only government can do things without common sense!
Posted by Don at 11:08 AM
Having driven heavy trucks over those new(north of bullsboro) lanes, I can honestly say they are some of the worst I have been on. Much rather have smooth over multiple.
Posted by heavy hauler at 10:35 AM
Any wonder it costs so much and takes so long. I guess it's job security.
Posted by Iggy at 10:16 AM
You are going to waste more taxpayer $ to do a study to see what would happen if there were 4 lanes open as opposed to 3??? The same amounts of cars are going to use the highway no matter how many lanes are open. The extra lane would allow vehicles to spread out, rather than driving in a pack like it has been for the past 3-5 years. This will lessen the chance of chain reaction multi-vehicle pile up. Drivers will feel safer, wildlife will not be affected, and no streams or creeks were impacted. Your high-dollar study was just completed for free!!! Now…open the darn highway (all lanes) & take your barriers with you when you go.
Posted by David M. at 10:10 AM
Hate to say it,but I told you so ! Sure , always on time.......
Posted by Big Boy at 10:06 AM
Like we didn't know that was going to happen...
Posted by Joe at 9:34 AM
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4th lane???? What tha ????
8/22/2010
Link To This Comment
I bet we would 4 lanes if I85 went through Sonny's birth county.
Posted by Why am I surprised at 4:54 PM