Published Thursday, July 29, 2010

4th lane on I-85 in Coweta delayed

By Sarah Fay Campbell

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.