Driving in Atlanta

Interstates and Highways | HOV Lanes | Interstate Tips | Surface Streets

Interstates and Highways
Atlanta is served by three interstate highways. On radio traffic reports, these are frequently identified by their location relative to downtown instead of by number.

Interstate 85 N. (the Northeast Expressway) connects Atlanta with Greenville, South Carolina, and Charlotte, North Carolina, before merging with I-95 near Richmond, Virginia. South of the city, I-85 S. (the Southwest Expressway) continues on to Montgomery, Alabama.

Interstate 75 N. (the Northwest Expressway) extends from Atlanta to Chattanooga and Knoxville in Tennessee; Cincinnati, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; and the Canadian border. Below Atlanta, I-75 S. (the Southeast Expressway) is the route to Florida via the Georgia cities of Macon and Valdosta.

Interstate 20 W. (the West Expressway) goes from Atlanta to Birmingham, Alabama; Jackson, Mississippi; Dallas, Texas; and beyond. I-20 E. (the East Expressway) continues to Augusta, Georgia; and Columbia, South Carolina; connecting with I-95 in Florence, South Carolina.

Interstate 285 (the Perimeter) is the 62.77-mile ring road encircling Atlanta.

I-75 and I-85 merge just north of Georgia Tech and become the same road, curving around the downtown business district. This section is called the Downtown Connector and is marked on maps as 75/85. The interchange connecting the combined 75/85 with I-20 is near Turner Field, the former Olympic Stadium and home of the Atlanta Braves. Interstates 75 and 85 go their separate ways just north of Hartsfield Atlanta Airport; I-85 goes to the airport and on to Montgomery, and I-75 continues south to Macon and Florida.

Another bit of shorthand you're likely to hear on radio reports is Spaghetti Junction. This is not a favorite spot for pasta, but rather the looping, futuristic interchange that connects the Northeast Expressway with I-285.

Interstate 675 is a short stretch that connects the southeast side of I-285 with I-75 about 10 miles south of town. It's hard to find -- some maps cover it up with ads or a street index -- but it's a real time saver. If you're heading south from the east side of town, take Moreland Avenue south until it crosses I-285; I-675 is on your left. It's handy for hooking up with I-75 S. during rush hour, since it lets you steer clear of the Downtown Connector and the congested section of I-285 between the interchanges for I-75 and I-85.

On the northwest side of town, Interstate 575 branches off from I-75 above Marietta, cuts through rapidly-growing Cherokee County and heads into the North Georgia Mountains. A heavily-travelled commuter route, I-575 is regularly snarled during rush hours as it feeds into and exits from I-75.

North of the city, Georgia Highway 400 travels toward Lake Lanier. Southbound Ga. 400 connects to the Northeast Expressway near Lindbergh Plaza. Ga. 400's extension inside I-285 to I-85 is a toll road (50¢). The toll plaza is just north of the Buckhead/Lenox Road Exit.

On the toll portion of Ga. 400, have your 50¢ ready. As you drive north, the booths on the right have attendants to make change; the center lanes take exact change only; the left lanes are for "cruise card" holders only. (A cruise card is an electronic device attached to your sun visor; it automatically debits your account each time you pass through the toll plaza. A camera photographs the license plate of anyone who zips through the cruise lanes without a card; freeway freeloaders will shortly receive a ticket and a fine by mail.)

The Freedom Parkway is one of Atlanta's newest roads. Opened in the fall of 1994, the 3.1-mile parkway begins at the Downtown Connector at International Boulevard and leads north to Ponce de Leon (just east of Midtown) and east to Moreland Avenue (just south of North Avenue) after dividing at the Carter Presidential Center. For years, the road was at the center of a legal battle between the Georgia Department of Transportation and area residents, who did not like the initially proposed larger highway's potential impact on their neighborhoods. In the end, the neighbors won significant changes in the parkway. It has jogging trails, bike paths and a 35 mph speed limit.

HOV Lanes
With a series of truly scary newspaper ads ("Misery. Suffering. Anger. Frustration. Brought to you by your friends at Georgia DOT"), the state Department of Transportation kicked off a massive, $41-million project to add express lanes (also known as carpool or HOV, high-occupancy vehicles, lanes) to the interstates inside Atlanta's Perimeter. Atlanta drivers shuddered and hoped the DOT was overstating the project's disruption, but it turns out the DOT wasn't. It was especially vexing that the project began in 1994, only months after the widening and redesign of the freeways -- underway since the 1970s -- was pronounced complete. "Here we go again," Atlanta drivers moaned in unison.

Why add express lanes? The DOT estimated that freeway traffic increased 20 to 40 percent in Atlanta from 1994 to 1995. The Environmental Protection Agency rates Atlanta as a "serious" nonattainment area for ozone smog pollution. Carpool lanes encourage folks to ride together and help reduce the city's output of auto exhausts. And during rush hour, they're less congested and move more smoothly than other bumper-to-bumper lanes.

Most importantly, the DOT had made a commitment to build the lanes as part of the deal that secured federal funds to improve Atlanta's freeways in the 1970s and '80s. So it simply had to be done. Three hundred and thirty lane miles of existing roadway were resurfaced and restriped; 60 lane miles of new express lanes were added.

Even with that project out of the way, it seems there's always some section of roadway under construction. The speed limit in the vicinity of all DOT work sites is 45 mph, and Georgia Highway Patrol officers have been out in abundance to enforce it. Speeding in construction sites has caused numerous deadly accidents; slow down and take it easy.

Express lanes were added to I-75, I-85, the Downtown Connector (75/85), and I-20 east of the city. An express lane will not be added to the less congested stretch of I-20 west of the city. Express lanes are marked with a diamond symbol and a sign reading "Left Lane -- Buses and car pools only." Only buses and vehicles with two or more persons can use the express lanes during their hours of operation. The express lanes on I-75, I-85 and the Downtown Connector operate at all times, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On I-20 east of the city, the inbound express lane operates during morning rush hour, from 6:30 to 9:30 AM; the outbound express lane operates from 4 to 7 PM.

For information on the latest lane and ramp openings and closings, the locations of construction crews each day, and road conditions, call the DOT at (404) 656-5267.

Interstate Tips
Now that we've given you the run down of the various interstates and their aliases, here are a few tips to bear in mind as you're merging into traffic.

• In 1995, after a series of horrible multi-car collisions on Atlanta's interstates, the Georgia Highway Patrol began putting the brakes on speeders. In a get-tough operation called Operation Hardnose, troopers prowled the freeways vowing to ticket drivers going even one mile over the speed limit. Hundreds of tickets were written day after day; some Atlantans got the message, but many others speed on. The effort continues at random on highways around town.

• Be aware that the posted speed limits on Atlanta's freeways are enforced, including the 45 mph limit in the vicinity of construction sites. Troopers are cheerfully shattering the commonly held false perception that you won't get a ticket unless you're more than 10 miles over the limit. Be aware also that troopers patrol more heavily on big travel holidays and when large numbers of people are expected to drive into the city from out of state.

• Driving north on the Downtown Connector, I-75 and I-85 split just after you pass downtown: You must take one or the other. The division comes up only 1.25 miles after the first sign announcing it, so you have to be prepared to act fast. This seemingly straightforward stretch of interstate has confused many a driver, and it's easy to see why. The three lanes for I-85 (the Northeast Expressway) are on the left; the three lanes for I-75 (the Northwest Expressway) are on the right -- exactly backwards from what you'd instinctively expect. Begin to move into the appropriate lanes as soon as you safely can after seeing the first signs for the upcoming split, or you may get caught on the wrong side. And, even if you've paid attention and found your lane early, be alert for other drivers frantically switching sides at the last minute.

• As you approach Atlanta by interstate, be particularly cautious around I-285, as its interchanges with the expressways are frequently the sites of accidents. All 18-wheel vehicles traveling the interstates are required by law to take the Perimeter, unless their destination is inside Atlanta. Many a trucker has jackknifed on I-285's ramps after failing to slow down. And even seasoned Atlanta drivers find themselves braking or changing lanes at the last minute because they're baffled by the signage, which is particularly confusing on the west side of town. There, as they try to enter I-285 from I-75, the left lanes head east; the right lanes head west.

• Traffic on the north side of I-285 has gone way beyond the road's capacity. Morning and afternoon rush hours on this highway are when Atlanta most resembles Los Angeles. East of I-75 across the top of the Perimeter, past I-85, through Spaghetti Junction and sometimes all the way over to I-20 E., the northside Perimeter at rush hour can be totally maddening. It often seems there are only two speeds on this highway: 65 mph and stopped. The top end Perimeter is undergoing improvements, but it's likely to remain one of Atlanta's most crowded roads. If you must travel to or from the north/northeast Perimeter area on a daily basis, it's worth your while to investigate alternate routes or travel times.

• The Ga. 400 extension has won raves from those commuting from Roswell, Alpharetta and Lake Lanier. It's also very popular with Atlantans who can travel the fast lanes to new shopping malls and sites on the northside. The reason has to do with the location of the toll plaza: It's just north of the exit for Lenox Road/Buckhead. This is a real break for in-towners: It means you can ride for free from the beginning of Ga. 400 directly up to mega-malls Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza. From downtown, take I-85 N. to the Ga. 400-Cumming-Buckhead toll road Exit 29; get off at Exit 2 "Lenox Road-Buckhead, last exit before toll." Turn right at the "To Peachtree Road" sign: Phipps Plaza will be on your left; the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead will be on your right; Lenox Square is just across Peachtree.

From this has come a forest of Peachtrees. But even if you could keep this jumble straight, there are more hazards ahead.

It's not uncommon for the same street to have two, three or even more names in different locations. You're driving on Juniper Street and suddenly it's Courtland; you head east on Decatur Street, and it turns into DeKalb Avenue.

This is sometimes the result of the way the city developed, block by block. In other places, it dates from the days of racial segregation, when it was meant to convey an unsubtle message of divided territory. This was the case at Ponce de Leon Avenue, once a racial dividing line. South of Ponce, Monroe becomes Boulevard; Briarcliff becomes Moreland. In many suburban counties, the streets frequently change names depending on the direction you're headed: For instance, in Cobb County, the road west from Marietta to Powder Springs is Powder Springs Road. The same street in Powder Springs is called Marietta Street. Sometimes its handy to think about where you want to go, and take the appropriately named road!

A favorite Atlanta city hall activity is renaming streets, or sections of streets, to honor civic leaders or to recognize social changes. Although a noble gesture in itself, this too causes confusion. Take Irwin that at Peachtree becomes John Wesley Dobbs Avenue. Before it was renamed in 1994 for the distinguished businessman and activist, the final stretch was called Houston (pronounced "house-ton" in Atlanta-speak). Such changes typically take years to show up on most maps, however.

Furthermore, terms such as "street" and "avenue" and "boulevard" are often used without apparent rhyme or reason. Peachtree Street runs north and south, but 10th Street runs east and west. North Avenue runs east and west, but Piedmont Avenue runs north and south. Ralph McGill Boulevard runs east and west, but Boulevard (south Monroe Drive) runs north and south. (Before it was renamed as a tribute to the progressive newspaper editor, Ralph McGill Boulevard was called Forrest Avenue, honoring a Confederate general and father of the Ku Klux Klan.)

In driving around Atlanta, you'll find you have more options when traveling north and south than when traveling east and west. In the afternoon rush hour, you may move south along Peachtree at a brisk clip, then turn left onto Ponce de Leon to find traffic crawling east toward Decatur. Commuters trying to avoid crosstown traffic often work out curious diagonal routes through neighborhoods, keeping off the clogged main streets. This may not save time, but some folks prefer it to sitting still. But beware: To cut down on the number of commuters buzzing along the residential streets, many in-town neighborhoods have succeeded at restricting the times drivers may turn into their area. In some cases, they've made streets one-way to keep commuters out. Particularly in the Buckhead area, pay close attention to signs posted at neighborhood entrances that spell out the restrictions.

There's no overnight way to learn your way around Atlanta's streets, but here are a few suggestions that should help:

• Concentrate on learning the main roads first. About Peachtree's various forms: It is first street, then road and eventually boulevard. It is Peachtree Street from downtown to a point just north of the Midtown district where it becomes Peachtree Road. We're told that decades ago, this is where the paved road ended and a country dirt road began.

• Atlanta is a hilly town, and Peachtree Street runs along its highest ridge. Peachtree begins downtown (its short, southernmost stretch is called Whitehall, after Atlanta's first store and bar) then passes through the hotel district, Midtown, Peachtree Battle and Buckhead. In Buckhead the street forks: To the right, Peachtree Road continues on past Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza, Oglethorpe University and on to I-285, which it crosses as Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. The left fork in Buckhead becomes Roswell Road: It travels north to Sandy Springs, Roswell and Alpharetta. Peachtree is Atlanta's main street and though often crowded is always a dependable north/south route.

• Piedmont Avenue can be a good alternative to Peachtree for traveling between downtown, Midtown and Buckhead.

• Ponce de Leon Avenue is an easy route to Decatur and to Stone Mountain. Eastbound, Ponce forks just after the stone railroad overpass: To the left, Scott Boulevard continues out to the Lawrenceville Highway; to the right, East Ponce de Leon goes to downtown Decatur (where the speed limit is strictly enforced) and Stone Mountain.

• Martin Luther King Jr. Drive is the direct route between downtown and the Atlanta University Center area. Within the AU district, James P. Brawley Drive runs north and south between M. L. King Jr. Drive and Spelman College, near I-20.

• U.S. Highway 41 (also known at different locations as Northside Drive, Northside Parkway and Cobb Parkway) is a noninterstate route out to the Cumberland Mall/Galleria area and on to Dobbins Air Force Base and Marietta.

• Five Points is the center of downtown Atlanta. It's formed by the intersection of Peachtree, Decatur/Marietta streets and Edgewood Avenue.

• Little Five Points is 2.5 miles east of downtown at the convergence of Moreland, McLendon and Euclid avenues. It's one of Atlanta's most eclectic shopping areas and a multicultural mecca, a scaled-down version of New York's East Village.

• Downtown is the area around Five Points. Midtown is the area around Piedmont Park; it's the first neighborhood bordering Peachtree north of downtown. Uptown is Buckhead, filled with lots of upscale clubs, restaurants and boutiques; it's populated with shoppers by day and bar-hoppers by night. The heart of Buckhead is about 6 miles up Peachtree Street from Five Points.

--from The Insider's Guide Atlanta, http://www.insiders.com/atlanta/