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NORTH METRO ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Transportation held a virtual QandA session with the public July 9 for the I-285 Top End Express Lanes project.

The I-285 Express Lanes project stretches from South Atlanta Road in Cobb County through Fulton County to Henderson Road in DeKalb County.

The focus is on adding two new, barrier-separated express lanes in both directions of I-285 and Ga. 400, alongside the existing general-purpose lanes.

For the I-285 Express Lanes project, work on Ga. 400 is slated from just south of Glenridge Connector to the North Springs MARTA station in Sandy Springs.

The Ga. 400 Express Lanes project, stretching 16 miles from the station into Forsyth County, is a separate project with bids now under state review.

David Hannon, with engineering firm HNTB, is working with GDOT to deliver its Major Mobility Investment Program, designed to address major traffic hotspots throughout the state.

It includes the I-285 Express Lane Project, designed to relieve congestion in Metro Atlanta; the I-85 widening project that would relieve congestion near Braselton; the I-75 commercial vehicle lanes project to improve traffic flow in Macon; and the I-16/I-95 interchange project that would deal with congestion in Savannah.

Hannon said the I-285 Express Lanes construction will be segmented because of its large scope.

The project webpage divides the proposed project into four sections, though the specific boundaries are not yet finalized: Top End, Eastside, Westside and Ga. 400. The delivery of three bridge replacements, completion of the I-285 Westbound Auxiliary Lane Extension and wrap-up of Transform I-285/Ga. 400 are all required in advance.

Hannon said some sections would be at-grade and others will be elevated.

To access the project visualization, visit youtu.be/3ay4ozwwPx0.

How to give input

Kyle Collins, GDOT communications strategist for public-private partnerships, served as the moderator for the two-hour discussion with Metro Atlantans.

“The purpose is sharing key details about the latest design concept and draft environmental impact statement, or DEIS, for the project,” he said. “Please keep in mind this is a preliminary design concept, so it’s not yet final.”

While residents can view design details on the project’s webpage, Collins said presented materials are subject to change.

To submit an online comment card, visit survey123.arcgis.com. Comments can be submitted until July 29.

GDOT’s project team is also hosting in-person sessions from 4-7 p.m. July 16 at Dunwoody City Hall and July 18 at City Springs.

Information shared at in-person meetings is also available in the project’s virtual meeting room. To access the interactive meeting room, visit https://0001758-285topend.scoutfeedback.com/en/Welcome.

Where express lanes sit

The bird’s eye view of the project shows the elevated express lanes crossing above major intersections, like Roswell Road (Ga. 9) and Northside Drive in Sandy Springs. The express lanes also cross over the Chattahoochee Rover at the Fulton-Cobb border.

The height of the elevated express lanes are 50 to 60 feet above the general-purpose lanes.

Heading east after New Northside Drive, the I-285 Top End Express Lanes return to street level to allow access to motorists traveling in both directions.

The I-285 Westbound Auxiliary Lane Extension, from Riverside Drive to Roswell Road, accommodates another street-level section, which sees the express lanes passing under the Mount Vernon Highway bridge.

Major I-285 intersections with I-75, I-85 and Ga. 400 show some divided, elevated express lanes to manage vehicles heading along different routes.

At the Mount Vernon Highway bridge over Ga. 400, there is an access point to the elevated express lanes.

As the Transform I-285 project crosses into DeKalb County, there is an access point at Perimeter Center Parkway.

After Chamble Dunwoody Road, the express lanes return to street level with access points before elevating after North Peachtree Road. As a part of the project, Cotillion and Savoy drives will be converted to one-way traffic.

Dunwoody Councilman John Heneghan said the lack of a connection to Peachtree Boulevard (Ga. 141) may leave his constituents dealing with increased traffic congestion in Dunwoody.

As an example, Heneghan said a trip to an Atlanta Braves game from Peachtree Corners may see drivers cut through Dunwoody to gain access to the express lanes.

Heneghan posted on his blog July 9 with links to his thoughts about the project going back to 2019 and communications from 2022 between the city and GDOT.

As of now, there is no connection at Peachtree Boulevard in the project plans.

Heneghan said the mayor and Dunwoody City Council are looking to push the eventual developer to add one.

Project timeline and cost

In March, GDOT released requests for feedback from private-sector entities that may be interested in financing the Top End I-285 Express Lanes project.

The public-private partnership, called P3, means state agencies tap developers to provide most of the funding and financing for the project.

HNTB engineer David Hannon said the expected project cost is more than $10 billion.

“With a public-private partnership, the state only has to procure a fraction of that,” he said. “The developer is using financing and their own equity to fund the rest of the project.”

The idea is that the private entity will be reimbursed through toll revenue from the express lanes, Hannon said.

There are a lot of specifics depending on the private entity that finances the project. Questions, like whether they will maintain the entirety of I-285 corridor and not just the express lanes, are still up in the air.

The locations of sound barriers, the topic residents asked about most, are tentatively set, and will depend on the financier.

Hannon, addressing the project’s timeline, said construction is anticipated to begin sometime in 2027.

“It will give us enough time to procure a developer for the project, and then give them time to close financing,” Hannon said. “The expected construction duration for all phases is 8-10 years.”