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Atlanta Tops for Traffic Tie-ups |
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Friday, February 20, 2004 |
It’s no surprise. Metro Atlanta has some of America’s worst traffic spots, and a
new traffic study is backing it up.
According to a new study from the American Highway Users Alliance, Atlanta’s most-troubled
areas include:
I-75/I-85 at the Brookwood Interchange: The roadway accounts for 17 million
hours in traffic delays each year and ranks as the sixth worst bottleneck in the
U.S.
I-85 at I-285/Spaghetti Junction: Set in DeKalb County, the traffic epicenter
is ranked the 10th worst tie-up in America.
I-75 at I-285/Cobb Cloverleaf: It’s ranked number 17 among worst bottlenecks in the nation.
The study also found that gridlock showed signs of revving up during the last five
years. However, researchers say more funding for roadway improvements would result
in drivers spending much less time stuck in traffic jams.
They say it would also reduce the number of accidents, thereby cutting down on accident-related
injuries and death. Lastly, few drivers means fewer vehicles spewing fuel emissions
into the atmosphere.
Meanwhile, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, who was in Atlanta Thursday,
accused Congress of wanting to spend too much money to reduce congestion, arguing
that the spending could actually delay the improvements.
Walking along the new 17th Street Bridge spanning I-75 and I-85 at the Brookwood
interchange, Mineta accused Congress of jeopardizing plans to reduce traffic congestion
in Atlanta and across the country because it wants to spend tens of billions of
dollars more than President Bush is proposing to improve traffic flow. Bush’s proposal
includes $256 billion over six years, the most transportation money in history,
for improvements.
“That is precisely why President Bush is prepared to veto any transportation bill
that would raise gas taxes [and] increase the federal deficit,” Mineta said.
Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Harold Linnekohl said improvements
to the Brookwood interchange, which include tearing down the 14th street bridge
and putting up a wider one, would cost a total of $67 million. The work, however,
cannot begin until the federal funding is approved.
Linnenkohl said the projects to alleviate congestion would be delayed if Congress
does not a pass that the president would sign. Most of the $67 million needed for
the project would come from the federal transportation bill that is currently in
dispute.
As it stands, the new transportation bill would provide Georgia $1 billion a year
for six years to reduce traffic congestion across the state.
Source: 11Alive News |
