Tuesday, December 13, 2005

STOP I-3!!!


This afternoon, I received the above "STOP I-3" sticker from an acquaintance in Hiawassee, Georgia, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northeast Georgia near the North Carolina state line.

For those of you who may not know, there is a proposal to build an Interstate 3 (a.k.a. "The 3rd Infantry Division Highway") from Savannah, Georgia, to Knoxville, Tennessee. For more information on this proposed highway, please see AARoads Interstate Guide I-3 webpage.

Like many proposed routes, "economic development" is used as the justification, but several residents in Hiawassee, which will be in the path of I-3, are already rallying against the road due to the potential environmental damage it could bring to the Appalachian Mountains of Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The Stop I-3 Coalition was formed for this purpose.

Even though I am a road enthusiast, I am not really sure that I-3 would serve any real purpose. Hiawassee is already benefitting from the increasing number of retirees that move there for the peace and quiet, thus I feel the "economic development" argument does not quite hold water.

If we have any more news on the I-3 plans, then we will share them with you.

What are your thoughts? Pro or con, please feel free to post them here at "The Georgia Road Geek" (please keep the comments polite, however).

BTW, "STOP I-3" bumper and window stickers are available through the coalition's website.

That's all for now. Thanks for visiting and please come back again.






6 comments:

Adam said...

Wow an anti-I3 groups formed already! that's pretty quick!

Anonymous said...

for good reason: it's a stupid proposal!

they would destroy some wonderful, beautiful land and great roads. Many of the roads they'd destroy in the process are very, very popular with motorcyclists and driving enthusiasts and already bring a substantial amount of tourist money to cities like Robbinsville, NC and others.

it's just not needed. It's a dumbass congressman who wants his name on a road.

Anonymous said...

The southern segment of the allignment parallel to the Savannah River makes some sence but the segment running through the mountains is unnecessary and expensive.

I-3 is a dumb designation, according to the Interstate System I-3 should be west of I-5 (replacing US 101 from LA to the Bay Area would be the best option).

By all means Georgia can designate it the Third Infantry Expressway or whatever but use a proper Interstate designation...

Anonymous said...

I think we really need I-3. The road will keep people and traffic from cloggging up our local roadways. Please support the new highway by contacting your representatives. Thanks, A local activist from Sautee Ga.

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Anonymous said...

The US does not need anymore interstates, period. we do road trips all the time, and the 10-15 minute you save by driving on the generic interstates, is actually a loss considering all the sites you would miss by not driving on the "back roads". plus, if you drive the back roads, you encounter the locals and their businesses that support their families directly. and the region that I-3 would destroy, is quite simply some of the most beautiful in the nation.