Saturday, April 6, 2013
The computer animated video explains how toll lanes from Old Peachtree Road to Hamilton Mill Road would operate.
If you missed last month's public hearings regarding the extension of the I-85 toll lanes northward, you can now learn more about the project courtesy of the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). The GDOT recently posted a short computer animated video depicting how the new toll lanes will operate (see above). The GDOT has proposed extending the toll lanes from Old Peachtree Road near Suwanee to Hamilton Mill Road, in the Dacula/Buford area. As part of the project, an additional lane would be constructed to avoid losing capacity in the free lanes. According to GDOT, the new toll lanes would provide reliable travel times, improved commute alternatives and expanded commuting choices (see pdf). In the presentation, GDOT explains …
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The right lane and right shoulder of the northbound and southbound lanes will be closed from 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18 through 5 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 19. Dacula-bound travelers may experience delays.
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012
UPDATED: Jan. 17 at 1:25 p.m. - Lane closures will now take place Wednesday night instead of Tuesday night as originally planned by the GDOT. Lane closures are planned on I-85 Wednesday night near the Mall of Georgia as crews work to install new interstate signs. The right lane and right shoulder of the northbound and southbound lanes will be closed from milepost 114 to milepost 116. The work zone covers an area just north of the I-985/I-85 split to one mile north of exit 115, the Mall of Georgia/Highway 20 exit. Dacula-bound travelers may experience delays. A temporary barrier wall will be put in place to protect the work zone. Work is expected to begin at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18 and continue until 5 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 19. According …
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Lt. Governor Casey Cagle says he’d like to add movable barriers to help the flow of traffic. What do you think?
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Sunday, January 1, 2012
With the public still reeling from the HOT lane project on I-85, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle has brought a new idea to the table: creating “reversible” lanes that widen one part of the highway during the I-85 commute. The Gwinnett Daily Post reports that the “grandiose” idea may be even more real the earlier thought, with county officials saying that the reversible lanes have been discussed by an advisory group whose report could be ready as early as March. The idea is to add movable barriers that would change some northbound lanes into southbound lanes in the morning, and vice versa in the afternoon. Some say they are all for any measure that would improve commutes—and have commended the idea for its creativity. Others have said it is …
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Calvin Wilson Jr, 26, was a medical student on his way home for Thanksgiving.
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Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The 26-year-old man who died last week after being struck by a tractor-trailer on I-85 ran out of gas on his way home for Thanksgiving, according to the Charlotte Observer. Calvin Wilson Jr. was hit and killed at about 3 a.m. on Nov. 25. Gwinnett County Police released photos of Wilson's tattoos in order to learn his identity. Wilson had very little in his pockets at the time of the accident and police requested assistance in identifying him. Wilson reportedly was a student at the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin's Graduate School of Integrative Medicine who went by the nickname of "Cal." His family became concerned when he didn't arrive Wednesday night from his trip home from Austin, Texas. He allegedly contacted his father and said…
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
A tractor trailer hit an overhead sign at the 85N/316 split, shutting the highway down for several hours.
Updated 12:52pm All lanes of I-85N are now re-open. The accident occurred just before 10 a.m. Wednesday and involved a single tractor trailer at the 316 split. Gwinnett County Police Department spokesman Cpl. Jake Smith said the driver had an issue with a tire, possibly a flat or loss of tread, and he attempted to pull over. The driver was not able to stop in time and ended up crashing into a support beam for an overhead sign, causing the sign to fall over all lanes of the highway. He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries but is expected to survive. Traffic was backed up for miles and drivers diverted to 316. Here are pictures from the scene. You can use Patch's real time traffic tracker to see how this tie-up may affect your …
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Some Gwinnett County residents say they felt duped and didn't get their concerns heard.
Gwinnett County residents were invited by State Senator Renee Unterman to attend a town hall Monday evening to discuss the HOT lane. When residents arrived at the event in Northview Church in Buford, many told Fox 5 Atlanta they were duped and could not speak out about the HOT lane. The meeting was originally scheduled to be a Republican town hall, but Unterman invited residents so they could discuss the HOT lane. WSB-TV says many people who attended the event called it "a waste of time." Channel 2 says the first hour was spent listening to politicians and only a half hour was set aside to answer questions about the HOT lane. However, officials only answered questions submitted in advance in writing. "They bamboozled us," Grayson resident…
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Governor also seeking change to three-passenger requirement for fee waiver.
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Thursday, October 6, 2011
Gov. Nathan Deal announced today that he is lowering the I-85 toll lane rates effective immediately. “Looking at what we’ve learned from our first four work days with the HOT lanes, I’ve asked SRTA to improve utilization of the express lanes,” Deal said in a released statement. “In the short term, the toll rate will lower -- starting with Thursday afternoon’s commute -- but the effective rate will continue to change to regulate speed and volume.” Deal added that the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) and the Georgia Department of Transportation are working together to improve the access and exit points on I-85 southbound. “Lastly, I-85 has long required two passengers for the express lanes. Federal regulations in effect with the HOT …
Monday, September 26, 2011
Effective Oct. 1, any vehicle that isn't eco-friendly or carrying three or more people will be charged per mile for use of the express lanes. Will you be paying for that privilege? Take our poll.
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Monday, September 26, 2011
Two person carpools have one last free, relatively comfortable, work-week commute on I-85. Beginning Oct. 1, that’s a luxury that carries a price tag. According to officials, the new express lanes will improve the traffic flow on I-85. However, according to a report in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, traffic woes for the regular Joe not looking to dig into his wallet could, in fact, get worse. The AJC cites a study by the state that found traffic in regular lanes is likely to get worse as a result of the project, the purpose of which was to improve traffic flow for those who car pool, ride vehicles less likely to impact the environment or alternatively are prepared to pay. The state’s study reportedly found regular lanes are expected to …
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Accident occurred on I-85 southbound near the Barrow County line.
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Sunday, September 18, 2011
UPDATED 10:50 A.M. All southbound lanes of I-85 in northern Gwinnett County were shut down shortly after 4 a.m. this morning when a tractor trailer jackknifed. No other vehicles were involved in the accident. Traffic was diverted onto Highway 211 for several hours to get motorists around the accident. According to Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Service public information officer Capt. Tommy Rutledge, the tractor trailer was a tandem hauler, which is a cab with two trailers attached. The truck overturned and went partially down an embankment. The second trailer was carrying a load which included one 55-gallon drum of a flammable liquid material believed to be ethyl acetate. Three wreckers was called to assist with what Rutledge …
Friday, September 16, 2011
Deceased struck by car as she attempted to cross the southbound lanes.
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Friday, September 16, 2011
A Buford woman is dead after attempting to cross I-85 early Friday morning. Police say 39-year-old Jade Christensen of Buford crossed the northbound lanes of I-85 just south of Buford Drive and was attempting to cross the southbound lanes at approximately 12:45 a.m. when she was struck by a 2004 GMC Envoy driven by a 64-year-old Georgia man. Christensen died at the scene as a result of injuries sustained in the collision. Officers with the Gwinnett County Police Department Accident Investigation Unit (AIU) believe Christensen was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. The accident remains under investigation. Just two days ago, 35-year-old Lonnie Cross was killed when an airborne tire tread struck him as he was riding …
R++ - One of the famous "Dacula Crew"
10:31 pm on Saturday, April 6, 2013
By their own admission, something must be done ... But what? The percentage of traffic using the HOT lane extension isn't really enough added capacity based on their own numbers to make any meaningful mitigation or added relief to volume constraints... Hot lanes are the state's equivalent answer to the Gillette Trac 3. Because you'll believe anything... (Rest in laughter Mr. Carlin) Plus I just … more ›