The planned 285/400 interchange redesign (buying, rail, estimate)

[toll_booth]

I'm starting to have second thoughts about this.

When you really look at that interchange, I'd say there are some parts that are fine and some that need work. The two biggest issues, in my mind, are the 285E -> 400N and the 400S -> 285E ramps; those need to go. But some of the other ones? The 400S -> 285W ramp is fine. The 400N -> 285W ramp isn't used much. The straightaways are fine.

My specific concern is whether we need to spend literally hundreds of millions of dollars to fix a problem that could be largely solved by a far simpler solution. Specifically, get rid of the antiquated 285E -> 400N and 400S -> 285E ramps, and replace them with smoothly-graded and curved flyovers. But for goodness sake, they don't need to rebuild the entire interchange like they did with Spaghetti Junction.

Oh, and yes, I have personally seen that interchange at rush hour, so I do know what I'm talking about.

[ATLTJL]

I'm not a civil engineer, so it's hard for me to say especially because I don't use that interchange often.

But I can say that the 285E to 400N ramp is totally laughable and an accident waiting to happen....except I'm positive it must be thousands of accidents that have already happened.

[therealpattman]

The GDOT is going to go all out with this interchange. I can see it looking like the The Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange in LA.

[testa50]

I tend to agree with OP that not a huge amount is really needed. If you added the flyovers described in OP, it would free up space to have three thru lanes on 400, which would be a big improvement. I'd estimate those two flyovers to be like $100-$150 million--not $500 million.

Heck, we're buying two flyovers in a much more constrained environment at the 400/85 interchange for $50 million. Seems like some value-oriented thinking would be the right approach here.

But for some reason we're ending the toll that would be a perfect revenue stream to pay for such an improvement.

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by testa50

I tend to agree with OP that not a huge amount is really needed. If you added the flyovers described in OP, it would free up space to have three thru lanes on 400, which would be a big improvement. I'd estimate those two flyovers to be like $100-$150 million--not $500 million.

Heck, we're buying two flyovers in a much more constrained environment at the 400/85 interchange for $50 million. Seems like some value-oriented thinking would be the right approach here.

But for some reason we're ending the toll that would be a perfect revenue stream to pay for such an improvement.

Projects like this give the GDOT a chance to shine. I think it will be like Spaghetti Junction but a little more complex.

[MattCW]

Originally Posted by dpatt.marine1

Projects like this give the GDOT a chance to shine. I think it will be like Spaghetti Junction but a little more complex.

Government agencies should strive to shine in efficiency, not complexity.

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by MattCW

Government agencies should strive to shine in efficiency, not complexity.

When it comes to GDOT it's a little bit of both if you ask me.

[cqholt]

Replace the 2 ramps that merge traffic into the 'fast lanes' and keep the rest the of the interchange. rehab the bridges some, but for god sake the interchange does not need to be a huge concrete monster. The only reason Deal picked this to be his priority is because it leads into the Republican strong hold of the metro! I-20 in South DeKalb is in greater need of congestion relief, but I don't see Deal giving hundreds of millions to build a MARTA line there.

[GeorgiaLakeSearch]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Replace the 2 ramps that merge traffic into the 'fast lanes' and keep the rest the of the interchange. rehab the bridges some, but for god sake the interchange does not need to be a huge concrete monster. The only reason Deal picked this to be his priority is because it leads into the Republican strong hold of the metro! I-20 in South DeKalb is in greater need of congestion relief, but I don't see Deal giving hundreds of millions to build a MARTA line there.

South DeKalb overwhelmingly voted against T-SPLOST.

[cqholt]

South DeKalb overwhelmingly voted against T-SPLOST.

Because they were not getting a rail extension and the NAACP told them to vote against it!