It's time for ForestWatchers to once again come together as a strong citizen voice against the proposed Interstate 3, which could obliterate a large chunk of the Chattahoochee National Forest and surrounding areas. 

The feasibility study for this expressway (officially called the Third Infantry Division Highway) will be contracted out in a bidding process.  This call for proposals could begin as early as this fall. 

We need to show these contractors that many legislators oppose I-3.  To do this, we'll remind key legislators of their previous commitments to Georgia citizens, and reinforce strong constituent opposition to this expressway.  

Please follow the instructions below to submit your comments.

What to say:

 

Below is a suggested letter, but please do put your letter in your own words.

"Dear _____________,

I am very concerned that our government is proceeding with spending taxpayer dollars on studying the proposed Interstate 3 (officially, The Third Infantry Division Highway).  I am adamantly opposed to this or any new major highway through north Georgia and the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

You have previously committed that I-3 would not go through any county that had formally resolved against it. The Rabun County Commissioners long ago resolved that they did not want this highway as did the governments of Habersham, Towns, White, and Lumpkin Counties in Georgia; Clay and Macon in North Carolina; the city of Highlands, NC; and the Southwestern North Carolina Planning and Economic Development Commission.

Do you intend to make sure that the highway does not pass through any area that has passed a resolution against it?

Please listen to the people and take a firm stance against I-3 and let Mary E. Peters, Secretary of Transportation, and Thomas Madison, Director of the Federal Highway Administration, know in writing that you oppose it.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely, "

Where to send your comments:

1. To both of these U.S. Senators:

• Sen. Saxby Chambliss

E-mail via website: http://chambliss.senate.gov

OR Fax: 202-224-0103

• Sen. Johnny Isakson

E-mail form: http://isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm OR Fax: 202-228-0724

2. To your U.S. Representative:

• If you don't know who your representative is,      click the link below and enter your zip code under      My Elected Officials: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

More Info:

If you're new to this issue, here it is in a nutshell: 

The proposed Interstate 3 would provide a major transportation corridor from Savannah, GA, to Knoxville, TN, and would facilitate the hauling of radioactive nuclear waste from the coast to the Oak Ridge, TN area.

Why I-3 is a bad idea:

1. You can currently travel from Savannah to Knoxville on existing expressways (I-95, I-40, I-26).  The travel distance on any of these existing routes is shorter than any of the proposed routes for I-3!

2. The proposed I-3 threatens four national forests and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The damage to clean air, clean water, local economies, wildlife and the beauty of our mountains would be irreversible.

3. Spending billions of taxpayer dollars to build an unnecessary industrial expressway is foolish in light of already strained federal and state budgets.  The cost to taxpayers to build an expressway thru the mountains is estimated at $25 million per mile ($15 million for flatter areas).

To learn more, check out the Stop I-3 Coalition's website: www.stopi3.org