Phase I Archaeological Survey for the widening of I-16 and I-95 Interchange Reconstruction, Chatham County, Georgia

I-16 improvements would include the addition of one general purpose lane along both I-16 eastbound and westbound between I-95 and I-516. Widening for the new lanes is proposed predominantly toward the inside grassed median with some minimal areas of widening and partially from the outside edge of pavement. In the westbound direction, the new general purpose lane would pick up at the end of the acceleration lane for the I-516 northbound ramp and drop off at the exit for I-95. In the eastbound direction, the new general purpose lane would pick up where the I-95 southbound ramp merges with I-16 and drop off at the exit for I-516. Along I-95, the proposed project would begin about 1.3 miles south of I-16 and end nearly 1.3 miles north of I-16, for a total distance of approximately 2.6 miles. I-16 and I-95 interchange improvements would include reconstructing two of the high-volume loop ramps: I-95 southbound to I-16 eastbound and I-16 westbound to I-95 southbound to fly-over ramps. Two lower-volume loop ramps serving I-95 northbound to I-16 westbound and I-16 eastbound to l-95 northbound would remain as loop ramps. A new northbound collector-distributor lane would be constructed to separate weaving between the remaining loop ramps from the I-95 mainline. Additionally, interstate lighting is being considered at this interchange. The two existing emergency crossovers would be replaced by one two-lane emergency crossover located just east of the I-16/I-95 interchange. During an emergency, I-16 becomes a one-way freeway in the westbound direction using contraflow lanes. The emergency crossover would provide access to contraflow lanes for vehicles in the westbound lanes. The emergency crossover would exit the I-16 westbound lanes where there are still three lanes and merge with the 1-16 eastbound lanes (contraflow lanes) west of where the I-95 ramps merge with I-16 eastbound. The existing ROW is 300 feet. The proposed ROW would vary between approximately 300-560 feet.