Interstate 675 (Georgia)

Interstate 675 (I-675) is an 11.04-mile-long (17.77 km) auxiliary Interstate Highway in the southeast part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. It travels from I-75 in Stockbridge in the south to I-285 in the north. I-675 is also designated as the Terrell Starr Parkway and also has the unsigned internal state route designation of State Route 413 (SR 413).

Interstate 675 marker

Interstate 675

Terrell Starr Parkway
I-675 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of I-75
Maintained by GDOT
Length11.04 mi[1][2] (17.77 km)
Existed1987[3][4]–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
South end I-75 in Stockbridge
Major intersections
North end I-285 near Conley
Location
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountiesHenry, Clayton, DeKalb
Highway system
  • Georgia State Highway System
← I-575→ I-985
← SR 411→ SR 415

Route description

Beginning at its southern terminus with I-75, I-675 is a four-lane highway with a grassy median and frequently with cable barriers. Between Ellenwood Road/Forest Parkway and the route's northern terminus at I-285 and Moreland Avenue, the freeway expands with three lanes in each direction.

The southern end of I-675 includes reversible high-occupancy toll (HOT) and express toll lanes built within the median, the South Metro Express Lanes, which opened January 28, 2017.[5]

The entire length of I-675 is part of the National Highway System, a system of routes determined to be the most important for the nation's economy, mobility, and defense.[6]

History
See also: Atlanta freeway revolts

At one time, I-675 was to connect with I-485/State Route 400 (SR 400) east of Downtown Atlanta. However, this would have destroyed many neighborhoods including Inman Park. Because it was thought that the road was unnecessary due to three other existing north–south Interstates across and around the city and due to community opposition, the highway was stopped by then-Governor of Georgia Jimmy Carter in 1975. After I-485 was canceled, it was then planned to end at once proposed I-420 near Gresham Park.[7] However, in 1986, I-420 was canceled for the same reason. So, its northern terminus is at I-285 instead. What would have been the interchange between this road and I-485 is now the location of the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum.

In 1982, the entire length of the highway began construction.[8][9] After several delays, the expressway opened 3 years late and $10 million over budget in 1987.[10]

Future

In 2006, a Reason Foundation report suggested a tunnel connecting I-675 to SR 400 and completing the originally proposed Interstate 420 estimating a cost of $4.8 billion.[11] In 2009, the idea of connecting I-675 and SR 400 had been officially resurrected, being put on an official list of Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) priorities.[12] This would extend I-675 north to I-20 with a surface road, then go underground with a road tunnel.[13] This would displace some neighborhoods and industrial areas to the south. The tunnel would protect other areas north of I-20; however, there would still be ventilation buildings. In 2010, the proposal faced opposition from then-Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed and many residents of the areas it would pass through.[14] An August 2010 GDOT feasibility study found that "no physical constraints exist along the proposed alignment that would preclude construction of a tunnel" and over a 75 year period, it would be expected to save 2.8 billion hours.[15] After the 2017 Interstate 85 bridge collapse, the plan received temporary interest.[16][17] As of August 2022, it is not on GDOT's Major Mobility Investment Project list.[18]

Exit list
CountyLocationmikmExitDestinationsNotes
HenryStockbridge0.000.00
 I-75 south (SR 401) – Macon, Tampa		Southern terminus; southbound exit and northbound entrance; I-75 exit 227
ClaytonStockbridge0.610.981

 SR 138 to I-75 north – Stockbridge, Jonesboro
Rex2.403.862 US 23 / SR 42 – Stockbridge
Forest Park5.058.135Ellenwood Road / Forest Parkway to SR 331 west
Conley6.6510.707Anvil Block Road – Fort Gillem
DeKalb​11.0417.7711

 I-285 (Atlanta Bypass / SR 407) to US 23 / SR 42 (Moreland Avenue) – Augusta, Greenville, Atlanta International Airport		Northern terminus; northbound exit and southbound entrance; I-285 exit 52
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References
  1. "Route Log – Auxiliary Routes of the Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways – Table 2". Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  2. Google (November 27, 2012). "Overview Map of I-675" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  3. Georgia Department of Transportation (1987). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (1987–1988 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  4. Georgia Department of Transportation (1988). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (1988–1989 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  5. Wickert, David; Joyner, Tammy. "New I-75 express lanes to speed up traffic — at a price". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  6. Federal Highway Administration (May 9, 2019). National Highway System: Atlanta, GA (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  7. Georgia Department of Transportation (1982). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  8. Georgia Department of Transportation (1982). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  9. Georgia Department of Transportation (1983). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (1983–1984 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  10. Yancey, Wanda (March 5, 1987). "I-675 to Open Labor Day". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022 – via Digital Collections - Georgia State University Library.
  11. Poole, Robert (November 15, 2006). "Report Calls for Major Toll Road and Tunnel Projects To Reduce Atlanta's Congestion". Reason Foundation. Archived from the original on May 21, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  12. Hart, Ariel (September 5, 2017). "From 2009: Tunnel makes DOT's top list". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  13. "Transportation Agenda" (PDF). Georgia Public Policy Foundation. May 1, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 2, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  14. Hart, Ariel (January 5, 2010). "Reed against Atlanta tunnel". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on January 9, 2010.
  15. Galloway, Jim. "A new campaign topic: Sending metro Atlanta's traffic underground". Political Insider. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution). Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  16. Turnbull, Doug. "Gridlock Guy: We must wait before we tunnel". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Archived from the original on May 15, 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  17. Hart, Ariel (May 9, 2017). "From 2009: Tunnel makes DOT's top list". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  18. "Major Mobility Investment Project: Home". Georgia Department of Transportation. April 22, 2019. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
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