MTO: 200-plus turn out for meeting on I-75/Ga. 247 connector

COMMUNITY GUIDE
macon.com

NEWS

Search our site

Local/State News

The AP Wire

Editorials

Sports

Business

Features

Obituaries

Straight Talk

Just Go!

RealBooks

Comics

Crosswords

KRT Interactive

Weather

Next Level

Newspaper In Education

BabyNamer

CLASSIFIEDS

Real Estate

Employment

Announcements

Services

Merchandise

Automobiles

Legal Ads

SERVICES

Yellow Pages

The Daily Ads

CarHunter

JobHunter

Apartment Hunter

Datemaker

Straight Talk Forums

RealBeanies

Headbone Zone

NewsHound

RESOURCES

NewsLibrary Archives

Internet Access

Contact Us

About Us

Sherry DiBari/The Macon Telegraph

Ken Turner speaks in favor of a well-planned connector road during Tuesday night's meeting at the Porter Ellis Community Center.

200-plus turn out for meeting
Route of I-75/Ga. 247 connector yet to be determined

By Christopher Schwarzen
The Macon Telegraph

More than 200 people wanted to offer an opinion Tuesday night on five proposed routes for a connector between Interstate 75 and Ga. 247.

While Bibb County road officials say the connector will eventually be built with federal funding, its path between the two highways hasn't been determined. Designers from Kimberly Horn and Associates listed five options for the route starting at I-75 during an open forum at Porter-Ellis Community Center:

The first route follows Sardis Church Road down to Walden Road, crossing over U.S. 41 and eventually meeting Ga. 247.
The second design follows the first until meeting Walden, where it splits to the south, eventually wrapping back to Walden, avoiding residential areas and meeting Ga. 247.
The third option drops south off Sardis Church Road near Goodall Mill Road until meeting Avondale Mill Road. The road would then basically follow Avondale Mill to Ga. 247.
The fourth proposal is similar to No. 3 except it follows along the opposite side of Glen Haven Memorial Gardens, taking the same route at Avondale Mill.
Finally, designers have proposed a separate connector starting south of Sardis, where it would eventually meet with Avondale Mill to connect with Ga. 247. This would require the construction of an additional new interchange at I-75.


Sherry DiBari/The Macon Telegraph
Jack Elliot speaks during Tuesday's meeting at the Porter Ellis Community Center.

None of the alternates is preferred at this time, said designer Bruce Schmith, but the group will be narrowed to two options at the next meeting, when construction costs, environmental impact studies and a no-build alternative will be presented.

Residents preferred different options depending on where their property was located. They seemed pleased that designers actually considered their suggestions from the first meeting. Many still wondered over the necessity of the project, however.

"I don't think you only need a plan from the Interstate to 247," said Doug Hayes. "I think we need to plan a road system for the community and establish where the community grows and doesn't grow. There is not a comprehensive plan in place."

Residents also questioned whether the connector would become a main thoroughfare for trucks from one highway to the other. Schmith said the speed limit would be set at 45 mph but would not prohibit truck drivers.

The only outbursts of the evening were directed at County Commission chairman Larry Justice, who was present for the meeting.

Justice verbally sparred with two individuals, saying he had taken enough shots over the past six months to stand a few more.

"Whether you believe it or not, I've sweated blood and tears trying to create a plan for the community," he said.