GDOT Breaks Ground on I-85 Express Lanes Extension Project
Staff Report From Metro Atlanta CEO
Thursday, August 4th, 2016
Georgia Department of Transportation hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the new I-85 Express Lanes Extension. GDOT Deputy Commissioner Mike Dover, joined by State Transportation Board members Rudy Bowen, Emily Dunn, Jamie Boswell, and Sam Wellborn. State Road and Tollway Authority Executive Director Chris Tomlinson and other state and local officials celebrated the highly-anticipated milestone that will add 10 miles of newly constructed toll lanes extending north of the existing I-85 Express Lanes.
“As the I-85 corridor continues to see steady growth, the need for enhanced mobility options is even more critical,” said GDOT Deputy Commissioner Mike Dover. “The new I-85 Express Lanes Extension will improve traffic flow and increase mobility options for people who travel the area, including motorists, transit and registered vanpool customers. This project addresses one of the region’s most congested commuter corridors.”
The project calls for adding one Express toll lane in each direction of I-85, extending existing Express Lanes from Old Peachtree Road to Hamilton Mill Road in Gwinnett County. Upon completion, the new Express Lanes will be managed by a variable priced tolling system operated by SRTA. The $178 million design-build project will be constructed by C.W. Matthews and ARCADIS and is expected to be completed by summer of 2018.
"The I-85 Express Lanes Extension is a significant milestone in expanding transportation options in the region," said State Transportation Board member Rudy Bowen. "Coupled with the success of the existing 16-mile stretch of express toll lanes on I-85 in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, the new extension will provide motorists with more mobility options while creating economic development opportunities and improved quality of life for the residents of this region."
In addition to the new Express Lanes, the project includes resurfacing existing travel lanes within the project limits and construction of two new auxiliary lanes, northbound between GA 20 and the Gravel Springs Road overpass and southbound between GA 20 and GA 317/Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road. The new auxiliary lanes will help keep traffic moving in the congested areas of the corridor. The project also includes an extended I-85 southbound bridge and new I-85 Express Lanes bridge northbound at the I-85/I-985 interchange to accommodate future improvements to I-985.
Other Express Lanes projects currently under construction include the Northwest Corridor in Cobb and Cherokee counties and I-75 South Metro in Clayton and Henry counties.