Interstate 85 (I‑85) is a major north‑south Interstate Highway that traverses the state of Georgia, forming part of the larger I‑85 corridor that runs from Montgomery, Alabama, to Petersburg, Virginia. Within Georgia, the highway extends approximately 111 mi (179 km) from the Alabama state line near Ephesus to the South Carolina state line at the Savannah River near Waynesboro.
Route description
- Western terminus: State line with Alabama, where I‑85 continues westward as Alabama State Route 46 (future I‑85 corridor).
- Key locations: The highway passes through the cities of Columbus (via the J.R. Allen Memorial Bridge), Macon (including the Tom Morel Bridge over the Ocmulgee River), and the Atlanta metropolitan area. Within Atlanta, I‑85 forms part of the downtown “Downtown Connector” together with I‑75, a concurrent section of approximately 3 mi (5 km) that carries both designations.
- Eastern segment: After separating from I‑75 north of Atlanta, I‑85 proceeds northeast through the suburbs of Lawrenceville, Duluth, and Suwanee, continuing to the eastern terminus at the South Carolina state line near the town of McCormick, SC.
Major interchanges and connections
- I‑20: Interchange in downtown Atlanta (downtown connector) and a separate junction near Lithonia.
- I‑285: The perimeter (bypass) highway around Atlanta, intersecting I‑85 at the north and south sides of the city (junctions known as “Spaghetti Junction” and “Friendswood Road interchange”).
- U.S. Routes: Connections with US 19/US 41, US 80, US 129, US 278, and US 29 at various points.
- State routes: Numerous interchanges with Georgia State Routes (SR) 85, 316, 400 (part of the “Georgia 400 Express” corridor), and SR 11.
Historical development
- Planning and construction: I‑85 was authorized as part of the 1956 Federal-Aid Highway Act. Construction in Georgia began in the late 1950s, with the first sections opening near Columbus in 1960. The segment through Atlanta was completed in stages, with the downtown connector opening in 1970.
- Upgrades: The highway has undergone major widening projects, particularly in the Atlanta metro area, where sections have been expanded to up to 12 lanes (including high‑occupancy toll lanes). The “I‑85 Expansion Project” in the 1990s and 2000s added auxiliary lanes and modernized interchanges.
- Recent improvements: As of 2023, the “Bobby Jones Expressway” segment in the Atlanta area has been converted to express toll lanes, utilizing electronic toll collection.
Traffic and usage
- I‑85 serves as a primary commuter corridor for the Atlanta metropolitan region, handling several hundred thousand vehicles per day on its busiest segments. It also functions as a key freight route linking the southeastern United States, facilitating movement of goods between the Port of Savannah, the Atlanta logistics hub, and destinations in the Carolinas and the broader Mid‑Atlantic region.
Future projects
- Express lane extensions: Plans to extend high‑occupancy toll (HOT) lanes further northeast toward the South Carolina border.
- Interchange redesigns: Ongoing studies for redesigning the I‑85/I‑285 junction to improve safety and traffic flow, with construction scheduled for the mid‑2020s.
- Intelligent transportation systems (ITS): Deployment of additional traffic monitoring cameras, variable speed limit signs, and incident‑response infrastructure along high‑congestion segments.
Significance
Interstate 85 is a critical component of Georgia’s transportation network, linking major economic centers, providing access to the Port of Savannah via connecting routes, and supporting regional mobility across the state’s western, central, and eastern corridors.
