There are some stretches of roadway that locals give nicknames. Nicknames like “Dead Man’s Curve” or, in the case of a stretch of I-16 near Pooler, Georgia, the “Devil’s Highway.” Some of these nicknames are earned because of the number of accidents that occur along that stretch.
Three separate accidents, each claiming five lives, have occurred on the same road leading to Savannah. The road, which is I-16, some have nicknamed “The Devil’s Highway.”
The first of these accidents made nationwide news as it claimed the lives of 5 Georgia Southern nursing students. That accident occurred in April. The latest of these accidents occurred in June.
Local residents blame too much traffic and not enough highway.
Two of the fatal accidents occurred near the I-16 interchange with I-95. This stretch of roadway is being rebuilt by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).
Chatham has been dealing with substandard roads for years, catching up with repairs bit by bit. However, due to a population explosion, these repairs have not been able to keep up with the stresses of that increase.
Since 2000, Chatham County’s population has grown by 24 percent. In the past five years, the Savannah Port has also grown by 20%. This translates to more containers leaving the port via tractor-trailers.
The GDOT also has plans to widen the part of I-16 by one lane headed eastbound and westbound out of Pooler. This project, however, is not expected to begin until 2019 and will not be finished until 2021. GDOT is planning on making a $500 million investment in improvements in Chatham and Savannah Port.
If you have been injured in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the “Strong Arm” attorneys at the law offices of John Foy & Associates. Our attorneys will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today.