Key Points:
• More than 200,000 vehicles travel the Interstate 285 daily, according to a GDOT statement.
• A public meeting will be hosted in Clarkston at 4 p.m. Nov. 6 on the Interstate 285 Eastside expansion.
• The City of Tucker has plans to make other improvements on I-285 that will coincide with the express lane project.
The Georgia Department of Transportation is hosting its final public information open house (PIOH) on Nov. 6 regarding the proposed Interstate 285 Eastside Express Lanes project.
GDOT will host its fourth and final PIOH meeting from 4-7 p.m. tonight at Clarkston First Baptist Church, 3999 Church St. Clarkston. The format for this meeting is drop-in, and there will not be a formal presentation.
The department has conducted studies on the project, which will affect motorists who drive through Tucker, Decatur and Clarkston, to assess the environmental impact of improving mobility on the eastern portion of I-285. More than 200,000 vehicles travel the thoroughfare daily, according to a GDOT statement. The studies examined the project’s possible impact on environment, noise, community resources and socioeconomics for the surrounding communities.
The first iteration of the plan was announced in June 2021. The latest revision focuses on adding two barrier-separated express lanes in both directions of I-285 between Henderson Road and just south of Interstate 20. The express lanes will be optional, and the number of existing general-purpose lanes will not change, according to the GDOT project plan.
Other information:
- The new express lanes will be managed by market-based pricing that reflects traffic congestion in real time;
- A private sector partner or partners will design, construct, finance, operate, and maintain the proposed express lanes in exchange for future toll revenues;
- The new express lanes will expand the Georgia Express Lanes network, providing more reliable trip times and an option to bypass traffic congestion;
- A Peach Pass will be required to use the current and future express lanes.
The City of Tucker is considering aesthetic improvements to two bridge replacements on Northlake Parkway and Henderson Road along with the expansion plans, Sonja Szubski, Tucker communications director, told Rough Draft Atlanta. GDOT has worked diligently on outreach for the project, offering email updates and meetings with staff and elected officials, Szubski said.
“This expansion is an answer to a need,” she said. “Many residents commute to work outside of Tucker so the City is confident this will be a boon for residents.”
For those who cannot attend this evening’s meeting, there is an interactive virtual room with details on the I-285 Eastside Express Lanes project here. The project team is accepting public comments on the plan from now until Nov. 20