Interstate 3

Interstate 3, the Third Infantry Division Highway, is a proposed Interstate Highway in the United States to run from Savannah, Georgia north to Augusta, Georgia and Knoxville, Tennessee. The roadway was proposed in the same federal highway measure that gave birth to a proposal for Interstate 14.

In 2005, the (SAFETEA-LU) was signed into law by President George W. Bush. The act included the proposed corridors for the planned I-14 (specifically as the 14th Amendment Highway), and I-3 (as the 3rd Infantry Division Highway). The legislation did not provide the official numbering, nor did it provide funding for the highways.

The proposed numbering of the highway does not fit within the existing interstate highway grid, but was noted to salute and honor the 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, Georgia.

The actual final route of I-3 is unknown. But the 2005 SAFETEA-LU legislation indicated that in Georgia, I-3 would follow the existing Savannah River Parkway from Savannah to Augusta.

According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Savannah River Parkway, which carries the designations State Route 555 and State Route 565, is mostly open to traffic or under construction.

The Savannah River Parkway begins just northwest of Savannah at the intersection of Interstate 95 and State Route 21. It goes northwesterly along Georgia 21, paralleling the Savannah River, to Millen, where it meets U.S. 25. From Millen, the roadway follows U.S. 25 to Interstate 520 in Augusta. A western branch of the Savannah River Parkway runs from Interstate 16 south of Statesboro north and northwestward (following U.S. 25) to meet the main parkway roadway in Millen.

The proposal faces local opposition from groups concerned about the environmental impact of the interstate highway. No date for construction of the highway has been set.

North of Augusta

Due to the difficulties of building a new highway through the Appalachian mountains, the route north of Augusta is less clear. In early 2008, officials introduced the possibility of routing I-3 through Greenwood, South Carolina and continuing on to Greenville. [ [http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/010208/news_20080102045.shtml "Athens Banner-Herald"] , January 2, 2008] Other potential routes continue in Georgia along U.S. 441, U.S. 129, and/or Georgia State Route 77. [ [http://www.stopi3.org/maps/images/Slide46_jpg.jpgMap of Potential Routes of I-3] , Stop I-3 Coalition]

External links

* [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/12?&sid=cp109SRdIl&l_f=201&l_file=list/cp109ch.lst&l_b=151&hd_count=50&l_t=223&refer=&r_n=hr203.109&db_id=109&item=12&sel=TOC_493076& 2005 SAFETEA-LU legislation, from the Library of Congress]
* [http://www.dot.state.ga.us/DOT/preconstruction/SpecialSubjects/grip/doc%5Csavannah-river-pkwy-factsheet.pdf Georgia DOT - Savannah River Parkway description]
* [http://www.stopi3.org/ Stop I-3 (opposition group)]
* [http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-003.html Interstate Guide Proposed Interstates: I-3]

References