Congressman Charlie Norwood is finished talking about proposed Interstate 3. Norwood told Habersham County officials Saturday that rumors continue to run wild about the project, and that all information is premature at this point. He said a study, funded in this year's highway appropriations bill, will determine if and where Interstate 3, from Savannah to Knoxville, Tenn., and Interstate 14, from Augusta to Natchez, Miss., would run. That study will include both routing and potential environmental impact.

"This is the last time I'm going to talk about it until after the study comes out," Norwood told members of the Habersham County Commission in a meeting at the Habersham County Airport.

Norwood said persistent inaccuracies continue to be repeated, including possible routes.
Commissioners said they didn't like the thought of an interstate following Highway 17 through Habersham County.

"Nobody proposed Highway 17," Norwood said, adding that the route would be determined by the upcoming study.

Commissioners told Norwood they continue to hear that the proposed interstate would follow Highway 17 through Stephens, Habersham and White counties.

"Trust me, they don't know what they're talking about," Norwood said. "There is no route. We're going to find professional engineers to study possible routes."

Commission Chairperson Lynne Dockery asked Norwood to consider reallotting funds for the proposed interstate to making Highway 365 and Highway 441 through Habersham County safer by making it limited access.

Speaking about Highway 365, Norwood said, "It's a dangerous road because of very poor planning. When I-985 was built, limited access never should have stopped [in Hall County]."

But Norwood said funding for proposed interstates cannot be used to upgrade existing roads.

"I have two of the most dangerous roads in the state in my district: 365 and 316 – both of them from bad planning."

"Funding to fix 365 and 316 will come from sources other than interstate funds," Norwood said.

Norwood said one source of misinformation has been "fringe groups" – groups he said fight against roadways wherever they are proposed.

"The majority of the people that have been talking to us do not represent that fringe group that you're talking about," said commissioner Dr. Rick Austin.

Norwood reiterated that no route has been determined or even is being considered for the interstate at this point. Everything is waiting for the results of the upcoming study, funded in this year's highway appropriations bill.

"You need to get us the accurate information so that we can educate people properly," Austin said.

"That's my job to make sure you are well-educated," Norwood said.

"I think the study is going to take 18 months to 24 months – not 12 months," Norwood said.

Dockery said commissioners have heard that it could be 40 years before work on the proposed I-3 begins.

"For me to give you a date would just be guessing," Norwood said. Norwood stressed that he inherited the I-3, I-14 proposals.

"This wasn't even my idea – it got dumped on me," Norwood said. "When Max Burns got defeated, a lot of people from my district came to me and said, 'Why don't you at least get a study done on this thing?'"

"I didn't run for Congress to build roads," Norwood said. "I'm basically uninterested."

Norwood said that when the study is completed, he has no doubt what his stance will be on the proposed interstate.

"I'm going to be with the majority of the people in the Ninth District," he said.

Norwood said county officials and others had just concluded discussing the economic growth expected to result from the extended runway, but might be failing to consider growth that could be brought by an interstate. He said motorists on an interstate might like to have a place to pull off to eat or to buy gas.

"That's an economic growth factor for your county also," Norwood said. "Stephens County to Savannah wants I-3," Norwood said. "And the truth is, I-14 is needed desperately from Augusta to Natchez."

He cautioned that there are those counties which might have legitimate reasons to oppose the interstate, and that he would work with them, when the time comes, to try to accommodate their wishes. Norwood added that he will have to yield to engineers and environmental experts in some cases, but still will try to assist.

Norwood urged county officials to be aware of the fringe groups and who they are.

"They're out there scaring your constituents," Norwood said. Austin asked Norwood to help the county stay up to date on any data about the proposed interstate, adding that the commission constantly battles rumors and misinformation.

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