WHAT: The Cumberland Community Improvement District (Cumberland CID), in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT), will host a groundbreaking ceremony for a new access point to the popular Northwest Corridor Express Lanes at Akers Mill Road. The new access ramp, which will be the newest of 12 access points for the lanes, will serve southbound express lanes users as an exit ramp in the morning and northbound express lanes users as an entrance ramp in the evening. 

Media must check in upon arrival at the designated location.

WHEN: Thursday, October 14, 10:00am

WHERE: Akers Mill Road bridge over I-75. Attendees will take Exit 258 on I-75 North (Cumberland Boulevard) to access event parking. (see map)

WHO: Media interview opportunity will be hosted following the formal program. Current speaker roster includes Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp, Congresswoman Lucy McBath Cumberland CID Vice-Chair Connie Engel, Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell McMurry, Cobb Chairwoman Lisa Cupid and State Road and Tollway Authority Executive Director Chris Tomlinson, plus other state and local officials. 

PROJECT DETAILS: The new access ramp will include gates on both ends to ensure safety for reversible directions of travel. The ramp will be 24-feet wide for the reversible lanes (plus break-down shoulders) and will widen to 50-feet at Akers Mill. It will include a barrier separated entrance to the northbound managed lanes.

Phase I of this project which included widening of the I-285 bridge over I-75 was completed in 2018 and was funded through Georgia DOT’s existing Northwest Corridor construction contract. The second phase of this project, which consists of constructing the ramp, is estimated to cost $18.2 million and is anticipated to be completed in 2023.