This is a "special guest blog" written by Mary Williams.
I love working for the Historic Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau. It’s a small operation, so we all have a chance to answer the phones. One of things that I do every day is to tell folks how to get from wherever they are to the historic sites in Roswell. I love to say that I have a job where I can tell people where to go and they appreciate it. If they tell me that they’re on Roswell Road, I learned very quickly to find out if they’re coming from Marietta (Hwy. 120) or from Atlanta (Hwy. 9). Both roads are named Roswell Road until you reach the city of Roswell where they change names to Marietta Hwy. and Atlanta Street, respectively. That’s where the confusion really starts.
If you’re coming from Buckhead (Atlanta), Hwy. 9 is called Roswell Road. In Roswell, alone, it becomes Atlanta Street, Alpharetta Street, and then Alpharetta Hwy. Once you’re in Alpharetta, it becomes Main Street and then Cumming Hwy. when you get north of downtown. At the Forsyth County line, it becomes Atlanta Hwy.
This all makes perfect sense to me – each time the road name changes, generally you’ve driven into or out of a city jurisdiction and the road name changes to reflect that it’s either the road TO or the road FROM whatever city name it now carries. This is very confusing to those from out of town, especially those from towns where a road carries the same name from beginning to end.
I’ve found out that this road name changing can even be confusing to others in the tourism industry. One day, I received a phone call from a tourist, looking for Chastain Park. She’d called Atlanta and they’d given her our number because they were sure that since Chastain Park is off of Roswell Road that it must be in Roswell. I explained that Roswell Road is the road TO Roswell, not a road in Roswell, and that Chastain is a city of Atlanta park.
I thought this was an isolated event, until I received a phone call a couple of weeks later from someone who works for Atlanta, asking about Chastain Park. She insisted that it was in Roswell, so I patiently explained that no, it was in Atlanta. She told me that that was impossible, because it was on Roswell Road so I got to explain, once again, that Roswell Road is the road TO Roswell and not a road in Roswell.
I also receive phone calls where folks ask what exit number are we off of I-75 or GA 400. Exit numbers don’t do anything for me. I visualize roads by their name. I see Hwy. 92 (the road from I-75, through Woodstock which becomes Woodstock Road, Crossville Road, and eventually Holcomb Bridge road before you get to GA 400) instead of an exit off of I-75. Maybe that’s a northern thing??? I can remember my trips to New Jersey on business where all directions were given as exit numbers off the New Jersey turnpike. When I’d ask what the road name was, up there, I’d get a blank stare.
Probably the most amusing geography anomaly that we have is the name of the city, itself. Roswell Georgia is an antebellum (before the Civil War) town, just north of Atlanta. During the Civil War, the only structures that were burned were our cotton and woolen mills
Roswell is more of a common town name than I’d realized. One day, a young man came into the Visitors Center. His name was Roswell and he had a goal to visit each of the towns in the United States that had that name and to get a souvenir from each. I can’t remember the exact number of Roswells that he told me, but it was over 20.
Each year, Roswell, New Mexico holds their alien festival. In the months that lead up to that event, we receive quite a few phone calls that ask about our alien festival. It’s happened so frequently that I think we need to design a t-shirt that shows an alien in antebellum dress with the title “Roswell – antebellum, not alien” on the shirt. So far, no one has agreed with me.
Thank you for letting me guest-host a blog on my amusing (well, to me, it’s amusing) experiences with the geographically-challenged public.
NOTE FROM STEVE:
Mary and I have been married for nearly 3 1/2 years, and she has worked for the Historic Roswell CVB for nearly 5 years.
Mary has been very supportive of my "roadgeeking" and I was quite pleased when she offered this "special guest blog" for posting.
I hope you have enjoyed reading it and thank you for doing so. Please come back again.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Friday, November 24, 2006
Thanksgiving In Social Circle
Yesterday evening, Mary and I met my folks, my sister and brother-in-law, and their little girl (our niece) Stella at the Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle for an absolutely wonderful time with family and a really delicious Thanksgiving dinner, southern-style of course. :)
Social Circle, a quaint little town in south Walton County, is located on GA 11 just 10 miles (16 km) south of the Walton County seat of Monroe and approximately 50 miles (80 km) east of Downtown Atlanta. If you are coming from Atlanta, take I-20 to Exit 98 (GA 11/Monroe/Monticello), turn left, and Social Circle will be just 4 miles (6 km) to the north.
The Blue Willow Inn is in an old southern-style mansion reminiscent of the fictitious Tara plantation in Margaret Mitchell’s novel “Gone With The Wind”. Ms. Mitchell herself was a frequent visitor to Social Circle and, in 1922 actually courted her first husband, Berrien “Red” Upshaw, at that particular house, which Upshaw’s family owned at the time. Nowadays, the Inn is known more for its excellent southern-style food, of which I am now one of its proud advocates. Not only will you enjoy the food, but you will also enjoy the ambiance of the place and the courteous “southern hospitality”.
Now, let’s go to the “roadgeek” part…
At around 6 PM last night, we departed from Loganville on US 78/GA 10 to the GA 10 Business (West Spring Street/Monroe) exit and went through Downtown Monroe, where we picked up GA 11 and proceeded to Social Circle. By the time we got going, it was dark, so it didn’t lend itself to any good roadgeek photo or video footage IMHO. This was the first time in 9 years that I have traveled that stretch of highway, the last time being to go to Monroe for a funeral of a distant cousin that my mother was close to during her childhood.
My dad rode with us on the way over there and I tended to rattle off some road history (and even some railroad history) that I knew regarding Monroe and Walton County. He's always sworn I should’ve been a civil engineer, but I prefer just being a "roadgeek". (I did consider civil engineering at one time, but settled on computer science instead.)
Before the completion of GA 316 in 1995, US 78/GA 10 was the main Atlanta-to-Athens highway, and from 1965 through 1988, most of the highway between the east end of the Stone Mountain Freeway (originally the Stone Mountain By-Pass) and Athens was a typical 2-lane road.
Around 1965, the Georgia DOT opened a 4-mile (6 km) 4-lane divided limited access Monroe By-Pass, rerouting US 78 accordingly. This was also designated GA 10 By-Pass and remained so until the mid-1980’s, when GA 10 through Monroe was redesignated GA 10 Business and GA 10 was rerouted on US 78.
Around 1969, the remainder of the Stone Mountain Freeway (GA 410) was opened between the current Memorial Drive exit (Exit 5) and US 29/GA 8 just northeast of Decatur. US 78 was rerouted onto this new alignment accordingly and has stayed there since.
During the 1970’s and 1980’s, US 78/GA 10 was widened between Stone Mountain and Athens, mostly to 4-lanes with a middle left turn lane, but the stretch between Loganville and Athens was widened to a 4-lane divided highway. The last part of US 78/GA 10 between Atlanta and Athens to be widened was completed in Loganville in 1988, with a brand new stretch built on the western side of Loganville at the Gwinnett/Walton County line. The original stretch from the county line to GA 20 is now known as Logan Road.
GA 11 is a highway that stretches from the North Carolina line in Union County through Gainesville, Macon, and eventually the Florida line in Echols County. Monroe and Social Circle are on a “standalone” northern stretch that runs from US 129 in Jefferson back to US 129 in Gray.Besides this stretch and a stretch between southern Bibb County (where US 129 and US 41) split and Hawkinsville (Pulaski County), GA 11 shares pavement with US 129 throughout the rest of Georgia. In Berrien County, it shares a brief stretch of pavement with US 82/GA 520 (South Georgia Parkway/Corridor Z).
From Monroe to Social Circle, the northern portion of the shortline Great Walton Railroad parallels GA 11, crossing it just south of Monroe and again just north of Social Circle. The railroad itself ties into the main CSX line at Social Circle. This is a stretch of track that originally ran from Social Circle to Gainesville via Winder and Braselton. The track between Monroe and Gainesville was abandoned and removed nearly 60 years ago.
Mary and I enjoyed Social Circle so much that we swore that we’ll come back to Social Circle, preferably during the daytime, and check it out further, plus even do a little “roadgeeking”. :)
That’s it for now. Thanks for visiting, enjoy the rest of the Thanksgiving weekend, and please come back often.
Social Circle, a quaint little town in south Walton County, is located on GA 11 just 10 miles (16 km) south of the Walton County seat of Monroe and approximately 50 miles (80 km) east of Downtown Atlanta. If you are coming from Atlanta, take I-20 to Exit 98 (GA 11/Monroe/Monticello), turn left, and Social Circle will be just 4 miles (6 km) to the north.
The Blue Willow Inn is in an old southern-style mansion reminiscent of the fictitious Tara plantation in Margaret Mitchell’s novel “Gone With The Wind”. Ms. Mitchell herself was a frequent visitor to Social Circle and, in 1922 actually courted her first husband, Berrien “Red” Upshaw, at that particular house, which Upshaw’s family owned at the time. Nowadays, the Inn is known more for its excellent southern-style food, of which I am now one of its proud advocates. Not only will you enjoy the food, but you will also enjoy the ambiance of the place and the courteous “southern hospitality”.
Now, let’s go to the “roadgeek” part…
At around 6 PM last night, we departed from Loganville on US 78/GA 10 to the GA 10 Business (West Spring Street/Monroe) exit and went through Downtown Monroe, where we picked up GA 11 and proceeded to Social Circle. By the time we got going, it was dark, so it didn’t lend itself to any good roadgeek photo or video footage IMHO. This was the first time in 9 years that I have traveled that stretch of highway, the last time being to go to Monroe for a funeral of a distant cousin that my mother was close to during her childhood.
My dad rode with us on the way over there and I tended to rattle off some road history (and even some railroad history) that I knew regarding Monroe and Walton County. He's always sworn I should’ve been a civil engineer, but I prefer just being a "roadgeek". (I did consider civil engineering at one time, but settled on computer science instead.)
Before the completion of GA 316 in 1995, US 78/GA 10 was the main Atlanta-to-Athens highway, and from 1965 through 1988, most of the highway between the east end of the Stone Mountain Freeway (originally the Stone Mountain By-Pass) and Athens was a typical 2-lane road.
Around 1965, the Georgia DOT opened a 4-mile (6 km) 4-lane divided limited access Monroe By-Pass, rerouting US 78 accordingly. This was also designated GA 10 By-Pass and remained so until the mid-1980’s, when GA 10 through Monroe was redesignated GA 10 Business and GA 10 was rerouted on US 78.
Around 1969, the remainder of the Stone Mountain Freeway (GA 410) was opened between the current Memorial Drive exit (Exit 5) and US 29/GA 8 just northeast of Decatur. US 78 was rerouted onto this new alignment accordingly and has stayed there since.
During the 1970’s and 1980’s, US 78/GA 10 was widened between Stone Mountain and Athens, mostly to 4-lanes with a middle left turn lane, but the stretch between Loganville and Athens was widened to a 4-lane divided highway. The last part of US 78/GA 10 between Atlanta and Athens to be widened was completed in Loganville in 1988, with a brand new stretch built on the western side of Loganville at the Gwinnett/Walton County line. The original stretch from the county line to GA 20 is now known as Logan Road.
GA 11 is a highway that stretches from the North Carolina line in Union County through Gainesville, Macon, and eventually the Florida line in Echols County. Monroe and Social Circle are on a “standalone” northern stretch that runs from US 129 in Jefferson back to US 129 in Gray.Besides this stretch and a stretch between southern Bibb County (where US 129 and US 41) split and Hawkinsville (Pulaski County), GA 11 shares pavement with US 129 throughout the rest of Georgia. In Berrien County, it shares a brief stretch of pavement with US 82/GA 520 (South Georgia Parkway/Corridor Z).
From Monroe to Social Circle, the northern portion of the shortline Great Walton Railroad parallels GA 11, crossing it just south of Monroe and again just north of Social Circle. The railroad itself ties into the main CSX line at Social Circle. This is a stretch of track that originally ran from Social Circle to Gainesville via Winder and Braselton. The track between Monroe and Gainesville was abandoned and removed nearly 60 years ago.
Mary and I enjoyed Social Circle so much that we swore that we’ll come back to Social Circle, preferably during the daytime, and check it out further, plus even do a little “roadgeeking”. :)
That’s it for now. Thanks for visiting, enjoy the rest of the Thanksgiving weekend, and please come back often.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving 2006
Dear Reader,
I just wanted to let you know how thankful I am for you reading my blogs and for watching my "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!" episodes.
This afternoon, to avoid the gridlock on the "top end" of I-285, I decided to venture up GA 141 through Gwinnett and the new City of Johns Creek in North Fulton County.
Once I reached McGinnis Ferry at the Fulton/Forsyth County line, I noticed that the construction signs have already been placed in preparation for widening GA 141 between there and GA 9.
Last weekend, the Georgia DOT had been doing work on the southbound lanes between Windward Parkway and Holcomb Bridge Roads, but unlike the northbound work, they only shifted traffic to the far left into the 2 new left lanes instead of fully opening all of them to traffic. They still need to finish placing the overhead gantries and signs on both sides, not to mention reactivating the traffic cameras, replace the message boards, and get the ramp meters up and running. Still no word yet from GDOT on the ramp meters and I still need to follow-up on it. If anyone in GDOT reads this and has the answer, then please feel free to let me know at webmaster at georgiaroadgeek dot com.
I just wanted to let you know how thankful I am for you reading my blogs and for watching my "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!" episodes.
This afternoon, to avoid the gridlock on the "top end" of I-285, I decided to venture up GA 141 through Gwinnett and the new City of Johns Creek in North Fulton County.
Once I reached McGinnis Ferry at the Fulton/Forsyth County line, I noticed that the construction signs have already been placed in preparation for widening GA 141 between there and GA 9.
Last weekend, the Georgia DOT had been doing work on the southbound lanes between Windward Parkway and Holcomb Bridge Roads, but unlike the northbound work, they only shifted traffic to the far left into the 2 new left lanes instead of fully opening all of them to traffic. They still need to finish placing the overhead gantries and signs on both sides, not to mention reactivating the traffic cameras, replace the message boards, and get the ramp meters up and running. Still no word yet from GDOT on the ramp meters and I still need to follow-up on it. If anyone in GDOT reads this and has the answer, then please feel free to let me know at webmaster at georgiaroadgeek dot com.
And finally, here's a picture that my self-proclaimed "leaf-freak" wife Mary took a few weeks ago along GA 400 southbound near I-85 as we were heading down to Columbus...
That's it for now. Thanks again for reading, for watching "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!", and may you and yours have a very happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday.
Monday, November 13, 2006
First New GA 400 Northbound Lanes Open
Today (Monday) was the first day of the first set of new lanes to open on US 19/GA 400 northbound and here's the configuration...
- 4 lanes from GA 140/Holcomb Bridge Road (Exit 7A-B) to GA120/Old Milton Parkway (Exit 10).
- Just past Exit 10, traffic temporarily merges left, reducing the lanes to 3.
- 1/2 mile (800 m) before Windward Parkway (Exit 11), traffic again temporarily merges left, reducing the lanes to 2.
The bottleneck that did occur between Mansell Road (Exit 8) and Haynes Bridge Road (Exit 9) now occurs just before Exit 10.
At this time, we have no word regarding the new southbound lanes between Exits 7 and 11, but once we find out, we'll let you know.
As soon as I can, I'll be shooting some footage of these new lanes for "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!".
That's all for now. Thanks for reading and please come back again.
- 4 lanes from GA 140/Holcomb Bridge Road (Exit 7A-B) to GA120/Old Milton Parkway (Exit 10).
- Just past Exit 10, traffic temporarily merges left, reducing the lanes to 3.
- 1/2 mile (800 m) before Windward Parkway (Exit 11), traffic again temporarily merges left, reducing the lanes to 2.
The bottleneck that did occur between Mansell Road (Exit 8) and Haynes Bridge Road (Exit 9) now occurs just before Exit 10.
At this time, we have no word regarding the new southbound lanes between Exits 7 and 11, but once we find out, we'll let you know.
As soon as I can, I'll be shooting some footage of these new lanes for "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!".
That's all for now. Thanks for reading and please come back again.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
I-185 Callboxes And GA 400 Status Report
Callbox on I-185 northbound at mile 41.3 in Troup County.In Georgia, I-185 is the only interstate with motorist aid callboxes.
The above pictured callbox, a solar-powered cellular unit, is one of 147 installed on a 40-mile (65 km) stretch from I-185's northern end at I-85 near LaGrange to just south of US 80/GA 22 (Exit 10 - J.R. Allen Parkway/Fall Line Freeway) in Columbus/Muscogee County.
In 1999, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office received a report on the effectiveness of these boxes. Please click here to read it.
IMHO, given the apparent success of the I-185 callboxes, I am somewhat surprised that such units are not installed on I-16, which contains longer desolate stretches as it makes it way from Macon to Savannah. If they have been successful on I-185, then why not install them on I-16? After all, not everyone may have a cellphone, or perhaps someone's cellphone may be dead, and this would give at least an option for a stranded motorist to get help if needed.
BTW, here's my latest episode of "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!" featuring I-185. (NOTE: DSL-or-faster connection recommended.)
And finally, US 19/GA 400...
This weekend, the Georgia DOT has been doing a massive push to complete the work on the new northbound lanes between Holcomb Bridge Road (Exit 7) in Roswell to Windward Parkway (Exit 11) in Alpharetta. Their goal, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is to have these lanes open to traffic on Monday morning. Please click here to read the article.
The construction also includes new ramp meter lights that have been installed on the ramps from Northridge Road (Exit 6) in Sandy Springs to Windward. A few months ago, I have sent GDOT an e-mail asking when they would become operational, but have not received a response. If I learn anything from any source I can find, then I will pass it along.
That's all for now. Thanks for reading and please do so often.
Friday, November 03, 2006
I-185 CLINCHED!!!
Mary and I are currently in Columbus, Georgia, and I am happy to report to y'all that at 5:45 PM this evening, I "clinched" I-185, and this will be featured on a future episode of "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!" .
On our way to Columbus, we ate an early supper at Sprayberry's Barbecue off I-85 on GA 34 (Exit 47) near Newnan. Their most famous customer was the late columnist/humorist Lewis Grizzard, who always enjoyed eating there whenever he could. Having eaten there ourselves a few times since we've been together, Mary and I can definitely understand his love for their food. If you're in the area, we highly recommend you eat there and order their "Lewis Grizzard Special" (sandwich, onion rings, and brunswick stew combo plate).
Mary, my self-proclaimed "leaf-freak" wife, got some good photos of the fall leaves at various points during our trip. Once we get home, I'll share some of them with y'all.
Now that I've gotten I-185 "clinched", I just need to finish driving the following Georgia Interstates: I-20, I-24, I-59, I-95, I-516, and I-520.
For a map of the Georgia Interstate mileage I've accumulated so far, please click here.
If you want to learn more about Georgia's I-185, I highly recommend you visit the AARoads Southeast Roads I-185 website.
I've got to get out of this business center and go back to visiting my Toastmaster buddies (some of whom I haven't seen in eons). Thanks for reading and please come back again.
P.S. Thanks to my loving wife, Mary, for "proofreading" this blog. :)
On our way to Columbus, we ate an early supper at Sprayberry's Barbecue off I-85 on GA 34 (Exit 47) near Newnan. Their most famous customer was the late columnist/humorist Lewis Grizzard, who always enjoyed eating there whenever he could. Having eaten there ourselves a few times since we've been together, Mary and I can definitely understand his love for their food. If you're in the area, we highly recommend you eat there and order their "Lewis Grizzard Special" (sandwich, onion rings, and brunswick stew combo plate).
Mary, my self-proclaimed "leaf-freak" wife, got some good photos of the fall leaves at various points during our trip. Once we get home, I'll share some of them with y'all.
Now that I've gotten I-185 "clinched", I just need to finish driving the following Georgia Interstates: I-20, I-24, I-59, I-95, I-516, and I-520.
For a map of the Georgia Interstate mileage I've accumulated so far, please click here.
If you want to learn more about Georgia's I-185, I highly recommend you visit the AARoads Southeast Roads I-185 website.
I've got to get out of this business center and go back to visiting my Toastmaster buddies (some of whom I haven't seen in eons). Thanks for reading and please come back again.
P.S. Thanks to my loving wife, Mary, for "proofreading" this blog. :)
Thursday, November 02, 2006
GA 400 Widening Status Report
Several weeks ago, the Georgia DOT assured us that the US 19/GA 400 widening from Holcomb Bridge Road (Exit 7) to Windward Parkway (Exit 11) would be complete on October 31st... but due to the contractor's Jersey barriers having issues with bad concrete and their having to repair sections, it still isn't over. Best case scenario as of now is that this particular section will be ready by the end of this month. The entire widening project up to McFarland Parkway (Exit 12) in Forsyth County is supposed to be completed by the first of April, but we'll see.
Tomorrow (Friday), Mary and I are going down to Columbus for the annual Georgia Toastmasters Fall Conference, where we'll be in charge of the credentials desk (sort of like the poll workers at a voting precinct in the "real world"). Our job, like the poll workers, is to verify that those representing the 200+ Toastmasters Clubs throughout Georgia who check in are eligible to vote and issue them their voting credentials for the Saturday business meeting.
Roadgeekwise, my primary mission in Columbus will be to "clinch" I-185 once and for all. I hope to catch it on video for a future "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!" episode, and if I do, I'll get it produced and uploaded for y'all as soon as possible. I'll also see about getting some road and/or sign photos.
Speaking of "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!"... a couple of days ago, I took my Florida video clips, produced it, and put it on the website. Please click here to see it. (NOTE: DSL-or-faster connection recommended.)
Finally, Adam Prince of Gribble Nation will soon feature my colored US 98 sign photo on their Florida section. Thanks, Adam, for asking and I look forward to seeing it there.
That's all for now. Thanks for reading and please come back again.
Tomorrow (Friday), Mary and I are going down to Columbus for the annual Georgia Toastmasters Fall Conference, where we'll be in charge of the credentials desk (sort of like the poll workers at a voting precinct in the "real world"). Our job, like the poll workers, is to verify that those representing the 200+ Toastmasters Clubs throughout Georgia who check in are eligible to vote and issue them their voting credentials for the Saturday business meeting.
Roadgeekwise, my primary mission in Columbus will be to "clinch" I-185 once and for all. I hope to catch it on video for a future "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!" episode, and if I do, I'll get it produced and uploaded for y'all as soon as possible. I'll also see about getting some road and/or sign photos.
Speaking of "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!"... a couple of days ago, I took my Florida video clips, produced it, and put it on the website. Please click here to see it. (NOTE: DSL-or-faster connection recommended.)
Finally, Adam Prince of Gribble Nation will soon feature my colored US 98 sign photo on their Florida section. Thanks, Adam, for asking and I look forward to seeing it there.
That's all for now. Thanks for reading and please come back again.
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