Interstates 3 and 14

Background

The idea for Interstate 3 did not originate with the communities in the region; rather it was former Georgia Congressman Max Burns who proposed the idea in 2004, apparently without informing local officials in the highway’s path of his intentions.

In 2005, Congress granted $2.64 million for a feasibility study of I-3 and I-14 as part of the larger Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act. As of July 2006, the Federal Highway Administration had not yet begun the study.

Backers of I-3, including a number of major corporate interests that would gain from new transport routes, claim I-3 would have economic benefits in the “underserved” corridor between Knoxville and Savannah. However, a 2005 study by the Federal Highway Administration concluded that interstates do not automatically bring growth to every community along the way. In fact, according to the report, highways can be economically damaging to smaller, rural areas and even “exurban” communities which experience a drain of retail and services from their centers to the new strip malls and shopping centers that spring up closer to interstate exits.

The 2005 bill also included study money for I-15, which would likely tie in with I-3 in Georgia on its way from Natchez, Miss, to Savannah.

In 2006, the Georgia legislature provided $100,000 to establish the Interstate Highway Development Association to promote I-3 and I-14.

However, opposition is building to both projects. The Southwestern North Carolina Planning and Economic Development Commission issued a January 2006 statement on behalf of seven North Carolina counties: “[I-3] has very little support from southwestern North Carolina citizens or their elected representatives, the preference instead being that any new federal highway funds be allocated for the repair of existing highway infrastructure.” The commission represents Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties. In Georgia, Lumpkin, Habersham, Rabun, White, and Towns counties have also released statements opposed to I-3.

The Stop I-3 Coalition is committed to preventing construction of I-3 or any similar highway through the Southern Appalachian and Southern Piedmont regions. Besides drawing support from residents of all four states, the coalition is also partnered with regional and national conservation groups, including SELC and:

• American Hiking Society
• Appalachian Trail Conservancy
• Chattooga Conservancy
• Georgia ForestWatch
• National Parks Conservation Association
• National Resources Defense Council
• North Carolina Alliance for Transportation Reform
• Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition
• Georgia Council of Trout Unlimited
• South Carolina ForestWatch

(For a complete list, see http://www.stopi-3.org/members.html)

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