Phase I Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Wade Green Road at I-75 Diverging Diamond Intersection

The proposed project consists of operational improvements to the interchange of Wade Green Road and I-75. The existing traditional diamond type interchange will be converted to a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) to utilize the existing bridge while providing operational improvements through this interchange. The current roadway and bridge consists of two, 12-foot wide travel lanes plus one left turn lane in either direction. A new eastbound right turn lane is currently under construction in the vicinity of I-75 SB ramps (by Cobb County DOT) to serve traffic heading to I-75 southbound ramps. There are no existing sidewalks in the vicinity of the interchange. The existing right-of-way varies from 120 to 165 feet along Wade Green Road. The project is approximately 0.5 mile in length.

Re-construction of the eastbound lanes of Wade Green Road will begin just to the east of Shiloh Road. An additional right turn lane will be included to serve the eastbound lanes of Wade Green Road at this location making this a dual right-turn lane configuration. These right turn lanes will serve traffic leaving Wade Green Road and entering the southbound lanes of I-75. The two eastbound thru lanes of Wade Green Road will cross from the southern side of the roadway to the northern side of the roadway in the vicinity of Wade Green Road intersection with I-75 southbound ramps. These two eastbound travel lanes will continue across I-75 on the northern side of the existing Wade Green Road Bridge until reaching the intersection with the I-75 northbound ramps. At this intersection, an option lane exit will open up serving traffic entering I-75 northbound lanes. The two eastbound thru lanes will cross back to the southern side of the road and continue east until tying to the existing roadway just east of the I-75 northbound ramps intersection.

Re-construction of the westbound lanes of Wade Green Road will begin just to the east of the intersection of Wade Green Road and the I-75 northbound ramps. A right turn lane for traffic going to I-75 northbound will be added from the existing driveway of the BP gas station to the intersection with I-75 northbound. Approaching the Wade Green Road intersection with the I-75 northbound ramps, a left turn lane will be added to the two Wade Green Road westbound thru lanes. At the intersection with the I-75 northbound ramps, three westbound lanes of Wade Green Road will cross to the southern side of the existing Wade Green Bridge over I-75. These two eastbound travel lanes will continue across I-75 on the southern side of the existing Wade Green Road Bridge until they reach the intersection with the I-75 southbound ramps. At that location, the two westbound thru lanes will cross back to the northern side of the roadway while the left turn lane continues to I-75 southbound ramp. The Wade Green Road westbound thru lanes will tie to the existing roadway before reaching the intersection of Shiloh Road. The existing I-75 southbound on-ramp will be widened to a two-lane ramp to provide additional storage. This two lane ramp will taper to a single lane ramp prior to reaching the gore point with I-75 southbound.

This project will also add new sidewalks within the project limits. On the west side of I-75, a 5-foot wide sidewalk would be added on the south side of Wade Green Road. Sidewalk will not be added along the north side of Wade Green Road to avoid construction within and adjacent to a National Register Eligible Church and Cemetery. Within the interchange, a 10-foot sidewalk will be included in the center of the existing bridge. On the east side of I-75, a 5-foot sidewalk will be included on both the north and south sides of Wade Green Road. These sidewalks will tie to the existing sidewalks at the eastern end of the project.