A major roadway connecting Athens and Atlanta may see changes. DOT seeks public input

Wayne Ford, Athens Banner-Herald
·2 min read
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The Georgia Department of Transportation is hosting a public hearing to release information on major changes planned for Georgia Highway 316.

The hearing, scheduled for April 23 in Statham, is geared at presenting the findings of a study and to gather community feedback.

The nearly 40-mile highway links metro Atlanta to the Athens Perimeter, making it the most highly traveled highway corridor between the capitol city and the state’s flagship university town.

The hearing is planned for 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Statham Community Center at 336 Jefferson St. A formal presentation is not planned for the meeting.

The study, according to DOT, is an examination of the 40-mile section of the highway from I-85 in Atlanta to the Oconee Connector in Oconee County.

Graphic showing some proposed changes on Highway 316.
Graphic showing some proposed changes on Highway 316.

“The study’s initial analysis showed that approximately 65 percent of the 40-mile corridor experiences crash rates higher than the statewide average,” according to a release from DOT.

The study, which began in 2022, is due to conclude this fall. The DOT report noted the changes based on safety, reducing congestion and supporting economic development.

The first five miles of the highway in the Atlanta area is considered a freeway, but the DOT reports it could be extended as a freeway from Buford Drive in Gwinnett County to the Athens Perimeter in Oconee County.

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The study shows that accidents on the freeway sections are lower than similar highways in the state, while the number of accidents on the non-freeway portion is higher than similar roadways.

In the most recent fatal wreck, three people were killed at the State Route 11 intersection between Bethlehem and Winder, where major overpass construction is currently underway.

In 2021, Gov. Brian Kemp and the DOT announced a $828.8 million project to perform reconstruction projects at intersections.

The goal of the study is to find ways to find intersection and operations improvements to enhance safety.

“Our goal is not only to share information, but also to obtain the community’s input, which we can potentially incorporate into the study’s proposed final recommendations,” according to Jomar Pastorelle, the DOT project manager for the study.

A survey can be accessed at  State Route 316 – Survey 2

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia DOT sets public meeting for Highway 316 changes