Atlanta Northwest Photos of interesting roads in the northwest side of the City of Atlanta and the Metropolitan area. |
In
addition to the photos below, the Atlanta Northwest Photo Gallery includes three
special photo features. The first two of these include East-West Connector/Barrett
Parkway feature and the Concord Bridge Historic District feature. These two features
are located in southern and western Cobb County. The last feature is photos of
two old wooden bridges: one across the Southern Railway and the other over the
old Seaboard Airline Railroad, which is today part of the Silver Comet Trail in
Paulding County. The first is very unsafe and scheduled for demolition, likely
already underway. | |
 | The
split at GA 5 and I-75
features the next interchange, the south end of I-575. Here, GA 5 crosses a flyover
and follows I-75 north to I-575. From there, GA 5 follows the entire interstate
into Pickens County. Photo taken December 2, 2004. |
 | Westbound
Barrett Parkway between U.S. 41 and I-575 is a state route known as GA 5 Connector.
A recent signing project created this oddity. Not only is this typically an overhead
mounted sign, but it is in a blank size normally used for three digit routes.
Photo taken July 20, 2004. |
 | Old
GA 5 (Canton Road) crosses U.S. 41 in a very unusual fashion. The highway bridge
here was constructed in 1938 originally for then two-lane GA 3E. Now, four lanes
squeeze under the bridge with the railroad forking off right before it, creating
a dangerous hole for traffic headed southbound. Photo taken March 30, 2005. |
 | The same bridge, looking from U.S. 41 northbound. The bridge and intersection is planned for a major overhaul in the next few years. Photo taken March 30, 2005. |
 | On
eastbound GA 120
is this overhead for the unique banner route of GA 120 in Marietta, GA 120 Loop.
The eastern intersection of the banner with its parent is a diamond interchange
built in the late 1960's around the same time I-75 was completed in the area.
A new ramp is proposed for this interchange soon. Photo taken July 22, 2004. |
 | GA
120 Loop and GA 5 overlap in Marietta. This was done when GA 5 was moved west
of the main part of town when GA 120 Loop was completed in 1989. Photo taken May
2, 2005. |
 | One
of the oldest interchanges in the state, the 3/4 cloverleaf and flyover at U.S.
41 and GA 280 (South
Cobb Drive) was constructed in 1957 and expanded in 1967 when GA 280 was extended
to then new I-75. The interchange was originally a trumpet interchange, and the
expansion created some very tight loop ramps squeezed into the original interchange.
Note the non-standard guide signs, the tight radius in the flyover and the general
old-style design. Photo taken March 30, 2005. |
 | The
same interchange, looking east from the U.S. 41 overpass. Visible is the flyover
and the signage for the ramp from GA 280 eastbound to U.S. 41 northbound, part
of the original interchange. Photo taken March 30, 2005. |
 | Detail
of the same overpass the previous photos were taken from. This overpass was built
in 1956 featuring three-bar aluminum bridge rails and a generally modern design
for the time. Unfortunately, it now has a weight restriction due to age, wear
and tear. Photo taken March 30, 2005. |
 | The
flyover makes an interesting split here with the flyover veering off seemingly
from the wrong side. This was originally the long part of the trumpet extending
from U.S. 41 northbound to GA 280 westbound. When GA 280 was extended, the flyover
was built to replace it. Photo taken March 30, 2005. |
 | More
detail of the flyover. Note the ribbed look of the steel beams and the extremely
sharp curvature of the flyover. Interchanges this complex built in such a tight
space would never be allowed today with any federal funding. Photo taken March
30, 2005. |
 | For
grander interchanges, here is the lower side of Old I-285, which now serves as
collector-distributor roads for the exit and entrance ramps with I-75. The old
interchange is very dangerous, but has been improved slightly with the flyover
to the left, which was built in 1985 as part of several major improvements to
the unique interchange. Photo taken December 26, 2004. |
 | Further
back, you can see where I-285 rises up in the middle with Old I-285 going to the
right. Both roads are technically mainline I-285, though mainline traffic is not
directed to this road. Photo taken December 26, 2004. |
 | This
is the same interchange as the last two photos, but this time looking from northbound
I-75. The I-75 northbound to I-285 transition is still a loop ramp. A ghost ramp
leading to a proposed flyover was built in 1997 to eventually fix that. Photo
taken December 2004. |
 | Outer
I-285 (here southbound) at GA 280 (South Cobb Drive). While the main freeway has
been widened and improved, the interchange is still largely original 1960's design.
Photo taken November 26, 2004. |
 | Now-removed
button copy and old-style state route assembly on Towne Lake Parkway at I-575.
Photo taken August 17, 2004. |
 | Combination
of button copy and modern shields at I-575 and Bells Ferry Road. I-575 is the
bridge overhead in the background. Photo taken December 19, 2005. |
 | Guide
signs where GA 5 joins I-75. Note that the overpass lists the road as GA 5 Spur.
GA 5 Spur extends east of the interchange over to Old GA 5 (Canton Road) where
it terminates upon merging with Old GA 5. Photo taken December 2, 2004. |
 | Now,
looking at the same interchange from GA 5 northbound where GA 5 Spur begins. Note
that the large guide signs show the route as simply "Canton Highway".
Another on the mainline lists simply "Woodstock". A route marker for
GA 5 Spur is posted below however. Photo taken December 2, 2004. |
 | In
the Brookhaven section of Atlanta is this fantastic relic of the mostly demolished
old Atlanta freeway system. This is an underpass for Old I-85 (GA
13) at Monroe Drive. Photo taken December 20, 2005. |
 | Old-style
directional assembly at the northbound off-ramp from I-75 to GA
92 in Acworth. This interchange is about to be completely overhauled,
thus these will be removed. Photo taken May 7, 2005. |
 | Here
GA 120 overlaps with U.S. 278 and GA
6 south of Dallas. All three routes originally went through the city
prior to the opening of the by-pass in 1992. Photo taken May 6, 2005. |
 | And
on the old route, GA 6 Business took over, leaving this long "Junction"
banner for the three routes put over one route for quite an interesting absurdity.
Photo taken January 11, 2004. |
 | On
the east end of GA 5 Connector (Barrett Parkway) at I-575 in Kennesaw is this
button copy sign, which was recently removed. However, the webmaster managed a
pic on the old film camera back in December 2003. |
 | When
GA 6 Business was decommissioned through Powder Springs in May 2001, these strange
cut-out route signs popped up in several locations, including at the new south
end of GA 176. I
managed to capture this one about six months before it was removed. Honestly,
they were fine and would have been perfect with a black border and "U.S."
like the California specification signs. Photo taken March 2003. |
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