Steve Hudson

Shaping The Future Of Highway Construction In Southwest Georgia

If planning is good, then advance planning is even better. For example, planning means I'm setting up a fishing trip, but advance planning means I'll be sure to put my waders and my reel in the truck before I depart.
     Don't ask me how I know this is important.
     Planning is important when it comes to highway construction too. In the past, a lot of that sort of planning has been done "somewhere else." But more and more these days, we're seeing state DOTs and other agencies working proactively to involve local or regional communities in planning the transportation projects that will affect them.

With that in mind, you'll be glad to know that your chance to have a say in what the highway construction picture might look like in southwest Georgia is just a few days away.

The Georgia Department of Transportation has begun work on its “Southwest Georgia Interstate Study” to identify current and future road capacity and operational needs, as well as identify possible improvements to the region’s access to Interstate Highways 75, 185, and 10.  The study area is 32 counties in Southwest Georgia, including  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.

“We are in the initial stages of the study, which includes data collection and gathering information on the current conditions in Southwest Georgia,” explained State Transportation Planning Administrator Angela Alexander. “It is important to get the word out about the study early on; explain the purpose of the study; and hear comments and questions directly from the public throughout the study.”

The study will conclude in the summer of 2009.

The first opportunities for public input will be at four “drop-in” forums scheduled in mid-April.   You’re encouraged to attend any of these meetings (each will cover the same information) to learn about the study, ask questions and provide comments.

Here are the meeting dates:

·         Monday, April 14, 5:00-7:00 p.m., at the Bainbridge Community Center, Bainbridge, Ga.

·         Tuesday, April 15, 5:00-7:00 p.m., at the Columbus Consolidated Government Center, Columbus, Ga.

·         Monday, April 21, 5:00-7:00 p.m., at the City of Thomasville Municipal Building, Thomasville, Ga.

·         Tuesday, April 22, 5:00-7:00 p.m., at the South Georgia Technical College Pope Center, Americus, Ga.

Additional information is available on the study’s Web site, which you can find at www.swgainterstate.com.

My guess is that, in the future, you'll be seeing more and more construction-related community involvement meetings. Have you ever been to one? Have you voiced your views, and do you find them useful? I'd be interested in knowing.

Posted by Steve Hudson on April 2, 2008 | Comments (0)