It was a glimpse into the future of regional transportation Oct. 3 as Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) hosted the Envision 6 Transportation Fair at Shannon Mall. For those weary of mounting traffic congestion in South Fulton and south metro Atlanta there is little end in sight since most of the solutions are years away.

Plans were divided into projects expected to be completed during the next five to six years and those considered long range, with completion dates anticipated between 2011-2030. Plans are susceptible to factors such as funding and adjustments by Georgia Dept. of Transportation.

Near term projects include a bridge upgrade at Cochran Mill Road and Pea Creek expected to be completed in 2008 and a bridge upgrade on Buffington Road at Morning Creek in 2008.

Off in the future near 2020 is the widening of Oakley Industrial Boulevard, expanding the roadway to four lanes from Hwy. 138 to Bohannon Road. Also slated for 2020 is the planned construction of a four-lane road from Bohannon Road to Gullat Road. Other projects for 2020 include the addition of multiple HOV lanes along I-85 from I-285 South to Ga. Highway 74 at a cost of $102.6 million. Also anticipated by 2020 is expanding U.S. Highway 29 south of Palmetto to Ga. Highway 154, a bridge upgrade on Hwy. 154 at Bear Creek in 2008.

In the year 2025 comes the already needed interchange upgrade at I-85 and Hwy. 74, expected to cost $11 million. Even further into the future is the widening of Camp Creek Parkway to six lanes. The $45.8 million project will be completed in several phases and is expected to open in 2030. Also anticipated to be open in 2030 are four lanes of Oakley Road from Stonewall Tell Road to Flat Shoals Road and a frontage road on the west side of I-85 from Hwy. 74 to Bohannon Road.

The Envision 6 project anticipates six million residents in the 10-county area surrounding the city of Atlanta by 2030. Those numbers are derived from projections from census data and other tracking sources. With more permits for single family homes than any other metro area in the United States, metro Atlanta’s unimpeded growth shows no signs of abating. That growth brings concerns from many that the six million mark may be reached much earlier than 2030. Specific to south metro and especially to South Fulton, Fayette and Coweta, many believe the area’s geometric growth will only serve to make road improvements a much higher priority than forecasters and GDOT anticipated.

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