Many Northeast Georgians are calling on the State Department of Transportation to build long-promised highway improvements on route 316.

The interchanges would eliminate dangerous intersections.

The Athens to Atlanta corridor was planned as a limited access highway with overpasses and on off ramps, but due to financial constraints, the majority of it was built with crossroads and stop signs and traffic signals.

The DOT has had four key interchanges on the drawing board for years, but its spokesperson says money to buy land for the projects may not be available until 2015.

The department is compiling public comments on which interchange should be built first.

Tags: Atlanta, Athens, Highway 316, State Department of Transportation