What is I-3?

Many are just waking up to a plans for a new Interstate highway through the north Georgia mountains. Dubbed "Interstate 3" and planned to run from Knoxville, Tennessee to Savannah, Georgia in the recent Congressional Transportation Bill, this road would devastate parts of Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. In Georgia, Clayton, Hiawassee, Blairsville, Cleveland, Ellijay, Dahlonega, Toccoa, Athens, and Elberton could all be targets in its path depending on what route it takes. Some of the most beautiful mountain areas in America would be destroyed.

This road would do nothing for national defense or little for easing Atlanta's traffic, as suggested. If national defense is really a concern, the money could be far better spent to help our military with better equipment and to secure our borders. Atlanta's traffic problems would be far better served by improved public transportation. This road would destroy mountain scenery, rural communities, and degrade an already stressed environment. The impact on the areas' waterways, the life blood of the southeast, (especially the Savannah and Chattahoochee River watersheds) would be incalculable. Air quality would suffer. Danger from nuclear trafficking between Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site would also increase.

This road is not needed, and would be an offensive misuse of public funds. Only a few rich investors would benefit from this project, whereas most rural residents' quality of life would be greatly diminished by this project. The time to stop this road is now--and the money could be better spent elsewhere.