The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT), with the coordination of the City of Sandy Springs, and its contractor, Archer Western Construction, will open the new Mt. Vernon Highway bridge over Interstate 285 to vehicular traffic Monday, April 22. Once the traffic shift is finalized after 9 a.m. Monday morning, minor Mt. Vernon Highway traffic interruptions are required the next few weeks, so crews can finish all new bridge aspects.
 
Mt. Vernon Highway drivers will have one lane in each direction available in this phased approach toward final overall configuration, pending additional sidewalk and multiuse path construction completion. The pedestrian access remains closed until those multimodal accommodations open. Georgia DOT will announce timing for pedestrian access when available.
 
The Mt. Vernon Highway work zone speed limit will be reduced from 35 mph to 25 mph, and drivers should expect temporary traffic interruptions at the overpass and I-285 as needed.
 
The expedited construction and opening of this new bridge is a major milestone achieved for the I-285 Westbound Auxiliary Lane project. Georgia DOT appreciates the patience of motorists and coordination with community partners that allowed the Department to build the new bridge structure quickly and safely.
 
The Mt. Vernon Highway bridge replacement is part of a larger project, the I-285 Westbound Auxiliary Lane Extension (P.I. 0017130), that adds an additional lane on I-285 westbound from Roswell Road to Riverside Drive in Fulton County. The overall project is scheduled to be substantially completed in Q3 2025.
 
As with any project, the construction schedule is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Traffic impacts will be updated regularly via GA 511, the project website, and Georgia DOT social media. For more project information, visit the project website at https://i285wbauxlanes-gdot.hub.arcgis.com/.