Georgia's '411 Connector' Reaches Major Milestone

Topics:  United States Numbered Highways

Federal Highway Administration
30 October 2008

FHWA 23-08
Contact: Doug Hecox
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tel.: (202) 366-0660

Federal Highway Administration Signs Long-Awaited Record of Decision

WASHINGTON - The Federal Highway Administration has signed the final Record of Decision (ROD) for Georgia's "411 Connector" project, giving the Georgia Department of Transportation the green light to move forward on this long-awaited link between US 411 and the Atlanta-to-Memphis highway.

"By asking tough questions, getting good answers and by getting multiple parties committed to a project like this, environmental streamlining has helped us make progress in months that otherwise could have taken years," said Federal Highway Administrator Thomas J. Madison. "With yesterday's ROD signing, hundreds of thousands of Georgia residents are nearer to the congestion relief they have been waiting for."

The action completes the exhaustive environmental documentation required for federally funded road projects, and allows the state to proceed with the connection between US 411, at its interchange with US 41 west of Cartersville, Ga., and I-75. When completed, this project will ease congestion along the existing US 411/SR 20 to the I-75 corridor.

"Making the 411 Connector a reality for the people of northwest Georgia has been one of my highest priorities since coming to Congress six years ago," said Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.). "This ROD helps the rubber meet the road, giving northwest Georgians a much-needed connector while serving as an important link in the Atlanta to Memphis Highway."

"This is a major step toward getting this important project under way which will help relieve the congestion in northwest Georgia," said Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.). "So many folks have worked diligently over the years to get this project to this point and they deserve recognition for all of their hard work."

"I appreciate the hard work by the FHWA, GDOT and especially the cooperation between the local governments and chambers of commerce in Bartow and Floyd counties whose persistence made this happen," said Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), the ranking member on the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

"We're excited about the cooperation that we've received from the FHWA along with our state and local elected officials on this project," said GDOT Commissioner Gena L. Evans. "We look forward to the continued collaborative effort of all involved going forward."

For more information on this project, visit http://www.dot.state.ga.us/informationcenter/activeprojects/StateRoute/us411connector/Pages/default.aspx