Gov. Brian Kemp wants to dedicate nearly $2 billion in state funding to expand express lanes on the perma-congested stretch of I-75 in Henry County.
Why it matters: Kemp's proposal would be a major investment in one of the state's worst traffic snarls and one of the term-limited governor's final priorities before leaving office.
Zoom in: Anyone who's traveled on the segment that starts roughly 25 miles south of Atlanta knows the agony of sitting, and waiting, and wondering why traffic suddenly stops and then magically starts moving again.
According to economic development officials, it's one of the worst bottlenecks in Georgia's freight network and a drag on goods coming from the Savannah Ports.
Kemp's plan, which he unveiled during the Georgia Chamber of Commerce's Eggs &Issues legislative breakfast Wednesday, would build upon the existing Peach Pass express lane that offers drivers a way around congestion for a premium.
Yes, but: Currently, vehicles using the lanes can travel only one way in the morning and another way in the evening. Kemp wants dedicated lanes in each direction.
Construction could begin in 2030 and take six years, the AJC reports.
Zoom out: The governor also wants $200 million to improve Ga. 316, the dangerous and well-used highway between Atlanta and Athens, Kemp's home base.
