Interstate 475 (secret Georgia 408) is a six-lane bypass of the city of Macon in central Georgia. The highway allows Atlanta to Tampa/Valdosta traffic with an alternative to the four lane Interstate 75 through Macon.
Three miles north of the Interstate 75/475 merge on southbound Interstate 475 is the interchange with U.S. 80 and Georgia 22 (Exit 3). The pull-through sign on southbound Interstate 475 shows "To Interstate 75 south Valdosta, Tampa." Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/28/05).
This is the final reassurance shield for Interstate 475 south. It is located after the onramp from Exit 3, Junction U.S. 80 and Georgia 22. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/28/05).
The next exit along southbound will be Exit 155, Hartley Bridge Road. This interchange is located just after Interstate 475 south merges with Interstate 75 south, hence the mileage-based exit numbering for Interstate 75's exits. By this point, Interstate 475 has only two southbound lanes. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/28/05).
Near the Interstate 475 merge onto Interstate 75 south at Exit 156 is this Interstate 75 trailblazer. There are no interchanges for the final three miles of the Macon Bypass. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (07/06/03).
Interstate 475 end shield assembly, proclaiming the conclusion of the six lane Macon Bypass. The first Interstate 75 interchange Interstate 475 motorists encounter is Exit 156 at Hartley Bridge Road one half mile to the south. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (07/06/03).
Perspective from Interstate 475 north
The first northbound Interstate 475 reassurance shield. The Macon Bypass was resurfaced with asphalt during 2001 and is lined consistently with overhead lighting on its otherwise rural trek. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (07/06/03).
Perspective from Interstate 75 north
The first advance sign for the Interstate 75/475 northbound split is the two-mile advance sign at Exit 156. This is the second Interstate 75 interchange within Bibb County, home to the city of Macon. The first is Exit 155, Hartley Bridge Road. Interstate 475 north initially begins with just two lanes, but quickly widens beyond the Exit 156 gore point. All signs for Interstate 75 and 475 throughout the Macon metropolitan area were replaced with the 1999 Georgia Department of Transportation exit renumbering project. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/28/05).
Northbound Interstate 75 reaches Exit 155, Hartley Bridge Road, just before the split with Interstate 475 north (Exit 156). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/28/05).
Now one mile south of the Interstate 75/475 split of Interstate 75 northbound, this guide sign was removed sometime between 2003 and 2005 in conjunction with the Hartley Bridge Road interchange construction project. This interchange is a standard "Y" with access for like directions only (Interstate 75 north to 475 north; Interstate 475 south to 75 south). The first interchange of Interstate 475 is four miles to the north at Exit 3/U.S. 80-Georgia 22 - Eisenhower Parkway. This is the first of four interchanges overall on the mainline. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (07/06/03).
View of the merging traffic from the Hartley Bridge Road prior to the Interstate 75/475 split. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/28/05).
A third diagrammatical overhead assembly for the Interstate 75/475 split. Traffic continuing into Macon will reach the city limits in four miles at Exit 160A/U.S. 41/Georgia 247 - Pio Nono Avenue. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/28/05).
Interstate 475 northbound begins. Traffic utilizing the Macon Bypass is afforded a 70 mph speed limit. Interstate 75 meanwhile sees a reduced speed limit to 55 mph upon entering the city limits of the Bibb County seat. The western terminus of Interstate 16 is nine miles to the north near Downtown Macon. Interstate 475 rejoins Interstate 75 at Exit 177. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/28/05).
After Interstate 475 north traffic splits from Interstate 75 north, a mileage sign on Interstate 75 north advises of the distance to the next exit (Pio Nono Avenue) and downtown Macon. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/28/05).
The final interchange of Interstate 475 provides return access to Interstate 75 southbound via U.S. 41 at Bolingbroke. This sign bridge displays a "TO Interstate 75" pull-through panel in lieu of Interstate 475. A similar practice is observed on Interstate 475 southbound at the final mainline interchange. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (12/15/01).
Early morning sunshine creeps over the tree line as Interstate 475 northbound merges back onto Interstate 75. A pair of end shields are posted heralding the conclusion of the bypass. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (12/15/01).
The left-hand side end sign posted across the travel lanes from the one depicted above at the northern conclusion. The assembly posts the end banner below the shield, which is essentially backward from the normal convention. With that stated, a similar configuration is found at the
Interstate 185 north end near LaGrange, Georgia. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (12/15/01).
The Interstate 475 merge onto Interstate 75 north. 62 miles separate this junction from the southern city limits of Atlanta. Interstate 75 maintains six lanes of travel between here and the Metropolitan area of the capital city. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (12/15/01).
Perspective from Interstate 75 south
Two-mile guide sign for Exit 177/Interstate 475 south on Interstate 75 south. Interstate 475 is given no control city, instead "Bypass to Valdosta" applies. The south Georgia city is 156 miles away via the Macon Bypass to Interstate 75. The sign was changed between 2003 and 2005 to increase the sign to a taller height and to provide additional information. Photos taken by Alex Nitzman (05/29/05) and Chris Patriarca (07/06/03).
A rest area is located about a mile prior to the Interstate 75/Interstate 475 split. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/29/05).
Now one mile north of the Interstate 75/475 southbound split. The primary function of Interstate 75 south of this point is to connect with Interstate 16 for travel interests to Savannah and the Gold Coast of Georgia. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/29/05).
Use Interstate 75 south to Exit 165 (Junction Interstate 16 east) for the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, Harriet Tubman Museum, and Ocmulgee National Monument. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/29/05).
Auxiliary guide sign for Interstate 475, one half mile before Exit 177. Realistically, this sign could display "Bypass to Tampa", as most Interstate 75 motorists south of Atlanta are bound for the Sunshine State of Florida. The Tampa-Saint Petersburg area is 376 miles to the south. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/29/05).
This view shows the entire Interstate 75 and Interstate 475 northern interchange. The back of the "Interstate 475 END" shield assembly can be seen next to the back of a diamond caution sign. Use Exit 177 (Interstate 475 south) to Bolingbroke (via Exit 15, Junction U.S. 41 and Georgia 18). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/29/05).
Shortly thereafter, southbound Interstate 75 splits with southbound Interstate 475 at Exit 177. Interstate 75 travels another 12 miles to the western terminus of Interstate 16 and 13 miles to downtown Macon. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/29/05).
Perspective from Interstate 75 north
The final exit on northbound Interstate 75 before Interstate 475 merges is Exit 175, Pate Road to Bolingbroke. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/28/05).
Shortly after Exit 175, Pate Road, northbound Interstate 75 merges with northbound Interstate 475. An "Interstate 475 END" shield is posted near the merge point, making the shield assembly visible to both sets of traffic. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/28/05).
Interstate 75 continues with four northbound lanes after the Interstate 475 merge; the next exit is Exit 181, Rumble Road to Smarr. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/28/05).
Perspective from Interstate 475 south
A begin Interstate 475 shield is posted just beyond the Exit 177 gore point. Begin shields are posted sporadically across the country. Other examples can be found on the Interstate 90, Interstate 96, and Interstate 185 Georgia guides. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/29/05).
The first exit on southbound Interstate 475 is Exit 15, Junction U.S. 41 to Bolingbroke; this interchange is approximately one mile south of the Interstate 75/Interstate 475 split. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/29/05).
