Thanks. We have a couple other stretches of highway with 7 lanes each way in the Atlanta area and 8 in one spot over three carriageways (I-85 & I-285 SW of the city) and 9 on a section of I-85 in Gwinnett County (two carriageways)
I never realized those I-75 ramps were C/D. I was just trying to make sure I never miss my exit when I drove through there. Nice POV through there than taking the main road up top. Love the drive, but the last (and only) time I took this stretch (by accident, misread the ramps from I-75S) I paid for it with a head-to-toe traffic jam to nearly I-85!
Just picture the large bridges carrying I-285 across the middle not being there and you have it, heck the original 1962 overpasses and exit ramps are still in use. Very similar to I-75/I-285 on the south side.
Those C/D ramps are actually the original through roads from the early 1960's construction, the flyovers and the lanes in the middle were added in the early 80's.
HOT lanes are express, so it wouldn't be an issue. I think it'd be interesting if Atlanta took two interior lanes of each highway and made them express toll lanes and only connected with other HOT lanes, in essence only connecting highways together. However, on radial highways every five miles or so there would be crossovers to the local lanes.
I can't believe you made it from 400 to US-78 in less than 5 mins..lol It takes me an HOUR at least during rush hour :( I tell my family back in Philly that traffic there is sweet compared to ATL. Part of the problem w/ 285 is that it goes down to 3 lanes at Spaghetti Junction causing traffic to back up. It needs to be revamped like yesterday.
I agree, and the money from those tolls should either 1) be used to improve public transport (expand the rail system) or 2) be used in part to eventually privatise the Atlanta freeway system. Think of how much less debt the government would be in.
Yes, and the 110/105 interchange in LA is still more ridiculous. The key to reliving congestion is separation of traffic; if one carriageway's backed up the other (hopefully) isn't. It's not perfect, but better than nothing.
All the pics as the start of the video like you referenced are ones I've taken. Many times I will be photographing while filming (although not for this video) and I look for a pic that is reasonably interesting that has room for some text graphics. I've been photographing highways far longer than I've been doing videos so I have quite a collection to pick from.
1) I drove an Acura TL in this video but on the long trips I normally take my wife's Acura MDX. 2) Camera is on a tripod mounted on the passenger seat floorboard. 3) The direction being driven is noted in the video, can't really superimpose an accurate compass on the video. You could also follow the route along with a road map, that would give you a good idea of the actual direction.
Yes, and the left exits, just a poor design but for the early 60's it was progressive, but anything other than a cloverleaf was progressive back then :)
I hate saying this, but expanding 285 will only worsen traffic. It's a well known fact that adding lanes adds traffic (excess latent demand); Atlanta is better off rearranging its highways for a possibly tolled system of local and express lanes, thereby dividing traffic.
Atlanta should've built an outer perimeter 20 years ago nuff said... for a city that clamins to be progressive Atlanta, has some of the most backwards contemporary urban planning that I've ever seen
