Home > Lawrenceville.Talk > Archives > 2006 > May > 02 > Entry
Wanted: New commute route
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Ga. 316 interchange at I-85 looks like an L.A. freeway is on the horizon.
The cause: Pre-construction prep work by the Department of Transportation for the 13 bridges due at this Great Divide. (They say by 2008, but you know that means 2009.)
So let’s just call it like it is: The interchange is bald. No trees. No shrubs. No vegetation. Just mounds of dirt and occasional humps of road kill, thanks to the $147 million extinction of wildlife.
The 316 commute westbound ain’t so great these days. It means 40 minutes spent in a reduced-speed zone dominated by Gwinnett County police while cars merge into the one lane left leading to I-85. This constant threat of a double-fine speeding ticket is like living “Cops: Episode 316” morning, noon and night.
At least, now that the DOT has scalped the land like a well-meaning barber working overtime, commuters have new scenic views at the Great Divide.
On a clear day you can see well enough to pick out your dream car from the Gwinnett Place BMW dealership while sitting in rush hour on the highway — say for instance, the $81,000 M5.
Or choose a $170,000 newly built townhouse facing Breckinridge Boulevard, heretofore hidden by lush foliage, but now with perfect backyard barbecue views of eight lanes of I-85.
Sadly, 316 and I have reached the end of the road. I just can’t do bald, boring and slow. (Though this is precisely what those dating sites match me with.)
I’ve already tried taking Lawrenceville Highway through Lilburn (land of a thousand school zones). I’ve also looped around Old Norcross Road (methinks this is just like I-285). I’ve also ridden Sugarloaf Parkway from the 316 side to the I-85 side. But you know that already because hundreds of you were on the road, too, the day I made that drive.
For someone heading to Atlanta, is there no sane highway left for leaving Lawrenceville to drive?
Permalink | Comments (19) | Post your comment | Categories: Jacqueline Bullard
Comments
By Dennis Billew
May 3, 2006 07:35 AM | Link to this
From Lawrenceville there are five ways to get to I-85 southbound. Three others if you want to go North. Each of these routes has additional options and escape routes along the way.
Or you could leave home thirty minutes to an hour earlier.
By whoDean
May 3, 2006 08:28 AM | Link to this
Or you could just leave suburbia for the city and enjoy a reverse commute (I love it).
By George
May 3, 2006 08:37 AM | Link to this
yeah, nothing like moving into the city where a 3 bedroom house will run you 25-50% more for the privledge of living intown. where it’s crowded, dirty, and right next to the million dollar house, is the local crack house. i’ll stick to the burbs and deal with the traffic. let’s me sleep better.
By John
May 3, 2006 10:11 AM | Link to this
George - you mean Gwinnett? I didn’t know there were million dollar houses there. I haven’t seen any crackhouses in Virginia Highlands or Midtown in a long time, and all the reports of gangs these days seem to be coming from Gwinnett, not Atlanta.
By Carrie
May 3, 2006 10:23 AM | Link to this
There is NO GOOD WAY TO GET THROUGH GWINNETT COUNTY! It’s to bad Gwinnett County and the State DOT hasn’t expended state roads or build new interstates to compensate for all the NEW homes and schools being built. It would ease the traffic on the only interstate running through Gwinnett County (1-85), but increase the quality of life for it’s residents. Oh Yeah, Sonny said “Synchronized Lights will Work”. I think is more Synchronized padding of $$$ in someones pockets!
By TheRoss
May 3, 2006 11:07 AM | Link to this
Fortunately, I live on the edge of Gwinnett, in Snellville. I drive downtown to work every morning, and take 78 to Ponce all the way to Peachtree. It isn’t that bad usually, except for the hiccups at the 285 ramp and occassionally on East Park Place.
I would LOVE to move to Atlanta, but I can’t afford my house there.
By Paul Moore
May 3, 2006 11:39 AM | Link to this
Come to Tucker friends! Reasonable home prices, good schools, and access to 85, 285 and 78.
By Alex
May 3, 2006 12:15 PM | Link to this
Currently we live in the outer reaches of Gwinnett and would LOVE to be able to afford to live intown having lived ther for most of my life. We looked at moving back last year, but a house for my family of four in a quiet neighborhood with a low crime rate and a good elementary school would be half the space at double the annual cost between mortgage, property taxes, and supplemental child care.
By Kevin
May 3, 2006 01:10 PM | Link to this
Jacqueline, you are too much! The good folks at GDOT and Moreland Altobelli listended to your gripes and worked their butts off to fix this real problem and all you can say is “where are the trees?”. Where is your brain?
By Terry
May 3, 2006 03:24 PM | Link to this
Great. I just cannot wait until GDOT comes down to Macon to I16/I75 and clear cuts everyting in sight. Goodbye Riverwalk. Goodbye Greenway. The $250 million + project down here will dwarf the 85/316 mess.
By Aggrevated2
May 3, 2006 04:01 PM | Link to this
I work for the DOT and live in Gwinnett County. I don’t think anyone complains louder than I do about the ridiculous traffic times—inbound and outbound. It was bad enough before the construction, now it is impossible!
By Woodie
May 3, 2006 04:09 PM | Link to this
I don’t want bigger highways. I want people to stop moving to Gwinnett. There are too many people here. That’s why we have traffic issues. The only solution is to make it uncomfortable as possible for people to move here.
I enjoy the traffic jams. I especially like watching harried commuters try to ride down U.S. 29 or Old Norcross. These people need to find another part of town to move to. You think the expressways are bad. Just try dumping the mass of southbound commuters onto the local streets. You ain’t seen a nightmare.
And what’s with all the beat up vans with stacks of latters on top that drive like grandmothers. You guys need to quit getting your houses painted by illegal aliens. These guys need to go paint Mexico and quit congesting traffic in Gwinnett.
Lastly, if you feel we must have more people, vote in MARTA and get some trains out here. Then USE the trains so they don’t become havens for all the indigents in Atlanta. Otherwise, quit belly-aching and enjoy a nice 1-2 hour commute down U.S. 29 or Old Norcross. I’ll be right in front of you enjoying every minute of it.
By Lamonte
May 3, 2006 07:00 PM | Link to this
Great blog for us Lawrencevillians Jacqueline! I have been in Gwinnett my entire 8 years in metro ATL….There is no quick way out of Gwinnett…it takes #1. TIME, #2 Shortcut routes, (they are top secret, because if I put them online, the whole world will have access to the info, and the routes will be clogged!, and #3 PATIENCE. The only real solution to getting to ATL from L’ville is leave early and take a route less congested. The majority of my commute is G.O.G. (getting out of Gwinnett!!!) Once I get to 285 it’s smooth sailing until I get to the dreaded Connector….oh, but I got a shortcut around it too!!!! Yet and still, GWINNETT IS GREAT and ATL is off the chain!!! Wouldn’t want to live anywhere else!!!
By butch wilson
May 3, 2006 07:34 PM | Link to this
i got outta that nightmare 2 yrs. ago now live in henry co. &work 3 miles from home there is a better way
By KK
May 3, 2006 10:51 PM | Link to this
I really think we need commuter trains linking to 5 points or at least Doraville. Most major cities around the world have trains or trams across their cities. Driving in Atlanta is a headache as well as a waste of gas. It wont matter even if we have 20 lanes of 85, they will all be congested in the next 2 years. We need to take advantage of the space we have right now and build railways for electric trains.
By happygwinnett
May 4, 2006 10:35 AM | Link to this
I love living in Gwinnett. We have a great house in a great neighborhood with great schools. My husband and I both work and we don’t have big traffic issues. You know why? We made good choices. We chose a house near where we work and where there are good schools.
By Transplant
May 4, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this
Hmmm…seems to me the DOT did have an earlier solution to the problem…let me think…I believe it was called the Northern Arc that “YOU PEOPLE” voted hands down “NO WAY JOSE!!” awhile back. I guess the GDOT does have good ideas from time to time. Can you move in to your multi-million dollar house before it’s built? Why do you expect a road or bridge to be built overnight? Grow up and get a life!
By Michael
May 4, 2006 07:11 PM | Link to this
Northern Arc? Please, ARC voted it down, why do they have any say so anyway? Marta, please, quit belly aching. Gwinnett doesn’t know what it wants except build on. I live here and as long as they stay out of control building we will never solve these problems. We need more semi’s, dump trucks, road construction, good ole boy tickets, ladder trucks and less highway. Best thing any can do is stay at home or sell out, Gwinnett is not that great!
By meme
May 9, 2006 08:43 AM | Link to this
I live OTP and I work OTP. I never have to get on an interstate. I think I picked right for me.