There is still a lot of work to do on the ground with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) but over the next few years, a new interstate might be coming together in central Georgia. As it stands now, to drive west from Macon, (depending on how far you plan on traveling) your best bet is to drive north to Atlanta and then head west on Interstate 20. Thanks to the efforts from a Columbus native and UGA student, Interstate 14 will change that.
Frank Lumpkin was a teenager in the Youth Leadership Columbus program when Teresa Tomlinson was mayor. Asked by Tomlinson what was holding Columbus back, Lumpkin said “lack of connectivity.” Tomlinson agreed and told him to keep at it. Lumpkin began researching ways to better connect the community. Some searching landed him on a proposal for I-14. Lumpkin was skeptical he could make much impact on a project the level of an interstate but a mentor encouraged him and he began looking into what he could do.
Lumpkin helped to found the Youth Infrastructure Coalition and began raising awareness of the project and discussing the issue with lawmakers on the local and state level. They put together a video called My14 and worked with the Georgia General Assembly to pass a bill asking Congress to designate the route and for GDOT to prioritize the project.
Read the full article here.