Quote:
Originally Posted by mayhem
ATLmangum: The answer is simple: GDOT.
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A cliche answer, but trite and simplistic. GDOT has an enormous responsibility which encompasses the entire state. While we are focused on metropolitan Atlanta, GDOT has to focus on highways and bridges throughout the largest state east of the Mississippi River -- no small responsibility.
If you look objectively at what GDOT has accomplished, you have to give them high marks in most areas. Georgia has one of the best highway systems in the eastern United States, hands down. Its roadways and bridges are well-built, maintained, and marked for all-weather travel. Road and bridge infrastructures supporting the ports of Savannah and Brunswick are a major key to the rapid growth of those valuable gateways. And like them or not, Atlanta's freeways have been constantly expanded with minimal interruption to traffic -- and that's quite a feat by itself. And have we already forgotten the 5th Street Bridge?
OK, so we don't like some of GDOT's work inside Atlanta, and it makes some here feel superior to imagine that they know everything and GDOT knows nothing. I would argue that it is a matter of focus, and that as Atlanta continues to increase as a percentage of the state's population, we will see more focus on major projects here -- besides the huge freeway interchange improvements that we already take for granted. The ho-hum 17th Street Bridge was followed by the dazzling 5th Street project, so I think Atlantans have good reason to be encouraged about future improvements.
It might be important to remember that the "G" in GDOT stands for "Georgia" -- not just Atlanta. GDOT is greatly underappreciated here.