This month GDOT held four Public Information Open House meetings to share details on the I-285 Top End Express Lanes project. These meetings mirrored those held in the summer of 2019 to discuss the I-285 East Side Express Lanes that will pass through the Tucker-Northlake CID.
The construction timeline for both projects, from SR 400 on the north to I-20 on the east, are scheduled to begin in 2023 and the system will be fully operational in 2028. Express lanes on the west side of I-285 will open in 2032.
The timeline for both projects have been adjusted, aligning the start date for everything east of SR 400 on the Top End project with the East Side project to I-20. Under the current delivery schedule both projects will begin in 2023 and the system will be fully operational in 2028.
These projects may seem a long way off, but investors are already identifying locations along the route as reliable ports of entry. The managed express lanes will be the backbone for GRTA Xpress buses along the route, shorting travel time for commuters as development expands along I-285.
The CID is in engaged in planning efforts to ensure the Northlake district and the Lawrenceville Hwy and Lavista Rd corridors will continue to benefit from the additional business as the area continues to grow.