I-85 Reopens through Atlanta

It's all about the money. To do something like this requires lots and lots of it. I'd bet the expense of restoring that highway was probably three times as much (or even more) as if it'd been done the usual way. Doing infrastructure improvements or repairs the way we do in this country these days (not until something breaks) is the only way they can be done without raising taxes to pay for them. Show me of a politician that will say we need to do that, and I'll show you one that won't be in office next week. We've only ourselves to blame.

waltbennett wrote:
It's all about the money. To do something like this requires lots and lots of it. I'd bet the expense of restoring that highway was probably three times as much (or even more) as if it'd been done the usual way. Doing infrastructure improvements or repairs the way we do in this country these days (not until something breaks) is the only way they can be done without raising taxes to pay for them. Show me of a politician that will say we need to do that, and I'll show you one that won't be in office next week. We've only ourselves to blame.

Completely correct! I just thought it was funny that they are saying that when the same ones are complaining about the repaving of the south end is so expensive:B

Glad to hear all lanes open now in Atlanta... Bet that was a nightmare... All I remember with the Atlanta loop traffic is it seems everytime I got in a lane and somewhat settled down the lane disappears on me and I have move over a lane...

Roy Ken

Three reasons,
#1. All the right of way is already in the states hands.
#2. Almost no design work the designs are already in archives.
#3. No enviromatal studies.

#4 reason - No Utilities to relocate

Same thing happen in Mount Vernon/Burlington, Wa a few years ago. A wide/high load kocked down a bridge span over the Skagit River on I-5. Temp Bailey bridge was install in record time. New permanent span was built next to the Bailey bridge and then a short closure occurred while they removed the Bailey bridge and slid the new span over into place.

I was over that span many times while the replacements were done. The interstate commerce effect of one bridge down on an artery like i5 runs into 100s of millions if not more. The pressure to repair is priority 1. That road keeps the west coast running.