As I write this blog, it is 4 more days until that great day in "roadgeekdom"... the Interstate Highway System's 50th Birthday!!!
Yesterday, the Georgia DOT began celebrations with a vintage car ride down I-75 from Windy Hill Road in Cobb County to The Varsity in Downtown Atlanta. To read more about this event, please click here for the article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
At this very moment, a transcontinental convoy from San Francisco is travelling to Washington in commemoration of Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1919 military convoy, an event that helped shape the idea in his mind of a federal superhighway system. Thanks to modern-day GPS technology, you can see where the convoy is currently located courtesy of AASHTO. Click here for updates.
National City Network features webcasts of the historic convoy. Click here to see for yourself (NOTE: DSL or better connections work best.)
The public radio program "Living On Earth" recently interviewed Interstate expert and author Dan McNichol as he traveled down I-90. Please click here for a transcript and audio.
Yes, folks, the "Big 5-0" is approaching quick and we, your friends at "The Georgia Road Geek", encourage you to take a moment of your time to reflect on how the Interstate Highway System has affected your life and your travels down both the literal highways and the proverbial "highway of life".
Finally, I'd like to give a special "thank you" to my dad, for letting me be his "navigator". When I was a child, he would hand me the maps and I would help him get to one of our many vacation destinations. This helped give me an appreciation of America's various and sundry roads and highways. I guess I was a "roadgeek" before I found out what one was. :)
That's all for now. Thanks for reading and please come back again.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Saturday, June 24, 2006
New GDOT Large Print Roadmaps
Fellow Road Enthusiasts,
According to a press release dated June 22, 2006, the Georgia DOT (GDOT) now has a "large print" state map which is being released to the state's welcome centers via the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
However, according to GDOT, you can get a "limited first edition" of this new map by contacting them directly. Their Map Sales unit e-mail address is OTDCustomerSrv@dot.state.ga.us.
Just before composing this blog, I e-mailed GDOT and put in a request. Once I receive the map, I'll look it over and give you my thoughts in a follow-up blog.
T0 read the full GDOT press release, please click here.
In other "Georgia Road Geek" news...
US 19/GA 400 construction in North Fulton and South Forsyth counties is really picking up the pace, with the median graded out and graveled/asphalted (and even some new "Jersey Barriers") between GA 14o/Holcomb Bridge Road (Exit 7) and GA 120/Old Milton Parkway (Exit 10), plus new northbound shoulder work being done between Windward Parkway (Exit 11) and McFarland Road (Exit 12). On the southbound lanes of GA 400 between McFarland and Windward, shoulder work has been completed. It has also been striped for temporary use as the rightmost lane during the ongoing widening process.
At the Haynes Bridge Road (Exit 9) acceleration ramp to GA 400 northbound, I've noticed several brand new BGSes that may be going up soon. They are currently sitting in racks, so I can't make out what they say.
In the meantime, contact GDOT for your "limited first edition" print map.
Finally, here's a "shout out" to my brother-in-law Lib for plugging my blog via his blog "The Smith Family Website". Thanks, Lib, for your kind words and support. I love you, man!!! :)
That's all for now. Thanks for visiting and please do so often.
According to a press release dated June 22, 2006, the Georgia DOT (GDOT) now has a "large print" state map which is being released to the state's welcome centers via the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
However, according to GDOT, you can get a "limited first edition" of this new map by contacting them directly. Their Map Sales unit e-mail address is OTDCustomerSrv@dot.state.ga.us.
Just before composing this blog, I e-mailed GDOT and put in a request. Once I receive the map, I'll look it over and give you my thoughts in a follow-up blog.
T0 read the full GDOT press release, please click here.
In other "Georgia Road Geek" news...
US 19/GA 400 construction in North Fulton and South Forsyth counties is really picking up the pace, with the median graded out and graveled/asphalted (and even some new "Jersey Barriers") between GA 14o/Holcomb Bridge Road (Exit 7) and GA 120/Old Milton Parkway (Exit 10), plus new northbound shoulder work being done between Windward Parkway (Exit 11) and McFarland Road (Exit 12). On the southbound lanes of GA 400 between McFarland and Windward, shoulder work has been completed. It has also been striped for temporary use as the rightmost lane during the ongoing widening process.
At the Haynes Bridge Road (Exit 9) acceleration ramp to GA 400 northbound, I've noticed several brand new BGSes that may be going up soon. They are currently sitting in racks, so I can't make out what they say.
In the meantime, contact GDOT for your "limited first edition" print map.
Finally, here's a "shout out" to my brother-in-law Lib for plugging my blog via his blog "The Smith Family Website". Thanks, Lib, for your kind words and support. I love you, man!!! :)
That's all for now. Thanks for visiting and please do so often.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Classic City Roadgeeking
For the past 3 days, Mary and I were in Athens (a.k.a. "The Classic City") at the North Georgia United Methodists annual conference, which was held at The Classic Center.
When we didn't have to be in business or worship sessions, we took a walk around Downtown Athens to see the sights... and yes, do some "Classic City roadgeeking" (as you can see from the photo below)...
One of the sights we saw during one of our short ventures was the famous Confederate double-barreled cannon. This cannon never worked as intended since no one could get the barrels to fire simultaneously, but it sits in front of the Athens City Hall and symbolically points northward. Here's a shot of me next to this famous piece of artillery...
When we didn't have to be in business or worship sessions, we took a walk around Downtown Athens to see the sights... and yes, do some "Classic City roadgeeking" (as you can see from the photo below)...
One of the sights we saw during one of our short ventures was the famous Confederate double-barreled cannon. This cannon never worked as intended since no one could get the barrels to fire simultaneously, but it sits in front of the Athens City Hall and symbolically points northward. Here's a shot of me next to this famous piece of artillery...After the conference ended this afternoon, we set out on the final "classic roadgeek mission"... clinch 2 more counties.
First, we traveled eastward on US 78 Business/US 78/GA 10 into Oglethorpe County. Once we crossed the line and turned around, we headed toward our second county... Madison. While crossing back into Athens/Clarke County, we noticed that the sign on US 78/GA 10 westbound simply said "Clarke County" instead of "Athens-Clarke County". Here's the photo...
To clinch Madison County, we headed to the Athens Perimeter/Paul Broun Parkway (GA 10 Loop/GA 422) and proceeded northward. At the northeastern corner of the Perimeter, US 29/GA 8 continues northward and we followed it into Madison County (but not before stopping at the Burger King at the corner of US 29/GA 8 and GA 72 for a quick lunch break).
After lunch, we proceeded northward... and clinched Madison County. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!! :)
We then headed back to Atlanta following US 29/GA 8 along the inner Athens Perimeter to GA 316. Incidentally, the US and other GA routes that follow the eastern and southern sections of the Perimeter were not shown on assurance markers. Here's an example...
You could, however, see the US route markers on the overhead BGSes. For BGS pictures, please see J.T. Legg's Peach State Roads GA 10 Loop webpage. BTW, GA 422 is not marked anywhere along the stretch that we traveled, thus it is apparently "secret" just like the 400-series Interstates.
On the last leg of our journey home, I did manage to take some pictures of the construction at the I-85/GA 316 merge and I'll share those with y'all soon.
I do need to mention one more thing... on the day of our 3rd wedding anniversary (Wednesday), we celebrated by eating dinner at The Varsity-Athens. It was her first time eating at a Varsity and we just loooooved those greasy, greasy onion rings (along with our dogs). To celebrate and commemorate Mary's first real Varsity experience, here's the photo I took of her with her empty onion ring boats...
That's all for now. Thanks for reading and please come back again.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Our Subligna Trip
Last weekend, we went up to Mary's parents' farm in the Subligna area and had a wonderful time visiting her folks.
Subligna, located in northeastern Chattooga County, is located miles from any highway and is one of the most isolated places we've ever been to in Georgia... but for what it lacks in amenities, it more than makes up for it in utter beauty, peace, and quiet. Every chance we get, we pack up the car and spend a weekend in that wonderful little getaway place of ours. :)
As promised, I took a load of road pictures. Here is one of them for your viewing pleasure...
With most US highways in Georgia, you get to see the corresponding state route number with it. Sometimes on the assurance marker post, you may see the GA route given precedence over the US route number, such as the one above in Chattooga County. Incidentally, this reflects a newer Georgia design and a smaller US route shield which are becoming much more common on Georgia's highways.
US 27/GA 1 (GRIP corridor EDS-27), from GA 156 to Gore-Subligna Road, is part of a National Forest Scenic Byway (NFSBW) designated by the Georgia DOT as the Ridge and Valley Scenic Byway. Interestingly enough, there are no signs telling you this, but instead, you see generic NFSBW signs along its route and you wouldn't know this name unless you either had looked at an official Georgia map from a couple of years back or visited the Georgia DOT website.
Before writing this blog, I took some of the photos I had taken along this route and compiled them into a photo album. Please click here to see them.
I also took photos of the ends of GA 140 and GA 156 at US 27/GA 1 as follows...
Subligna, located in northeastern Chattooga County, is located miles from any highway and is one of the most isolated places we've ever been to in Georgia... but for what it lacks in amenities, it more than makes up for it in utter beauty, peace, and quiet. Every chance we get, we pack up the car and spend a weekend in that wonderful little getaway place of ours. :)
As promised, I took a load of road pictures. Here is one of them for your viewing pleasure...
With most US highways in Georgia, you get to see the corresponding state route number with it. Sometimes on the assurance marker post, you may see the GA route given precedence over the US route number, such as the one above in Chattooga County. Incidentally, this reflects a newer Georgia design and a smaller US route shield which are becoming much more common on Georgia's highways.
US 27/GA 1 (GRIP corridor EDS-27), from GA 156 to Gore-Subligna Road, is part of a National Forest Scenic Byway (NFSBW) designated by the Georgia DOT as the Ridge and Valley Scenic Byway. Interestingly enough, there are no signs telling you this, but instead, you see generic NFSBW signs along its route and you wouldn't know this name unless you either had looked at an official Georgia map from a couple of years back or visited the Georgia DOT website.
Before writing this blog, I took some of the photos I had taken along this route and compiled them into a photo album. Please click here to see them.
I also took photos of the ends of GA 140 and GA 156 at US 27/GA 1 as follows...
Please click here for a full map of the Ridge and Valley Scenic Byway from GDOT (in PDF form).
That's all for now. Thanks for visiting and please come back again.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Subligna, Here We Come!!!
Today, Mary and I are going to the great Chattooga County metropolis of Subligna.
My in-laws live on a farm there and we're gonna spend the rest of the weekend there with them. Mary is going to cook a nice meal for them... and boy is it gonna be nice. I'm sure her folks will enjoy it. :)
On June 14, 2003, we were married there on the farm by her father, a retired Methodist minister who grew up there. Here's one of many photos of our wedding day...
Speaking of weddings, congratulations to fellow road enthusiast Brian LeBlanc and his bride Laura on their recent wedding. May theirs be a happy and prosperous one!!! :)
My in-laws live on a farm there and we're gonna spend the rest of the weekend there with them. Mary is going to cook a nice meal for them... and boy is it gonna be nice. I'm sure her folks will enjoy it. :)
On June 14, 2003, we were married there on the farm by her father, a retired Methodist minister who grew up there. Here's one of many photos of our wedding day...
Speaking of weddings, congratulations to fellow road enthusiast Brian LeBlanc and his bride Laura on their recent wedding. May theirs be a happy and prosperous one!!! :)
My roadgeek objective for this trip is to get at least one picture of the end of GA 140 at US 27/GA 1 in Floyd County, plus any others that I can on the way there.
That's all for now. It's time to get ready to go to Subligna. Kudos again to our newest "roadgeek couple" Brian and Laura, thanks to y'all for reading, and may y'all have a great weekend.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
