Drivers crossing northern I-285 through Sandy Springs and Dunwoody are a step closer to having a paid alternative to the Perimeter’s traffic. But the first new express lanes are not expected to open until 2034, with construction scheduled to begin in 2028.
The State Transportation Board on Oct. 15 selected Top End Mobility Group to develop the first phase of the I-285 East Express Lanes project. The consortium, led by infrastructure company Ferrovial, would design, build, finance, operate and maintain the lanes under a long-term agreement. The initial construction value is estimated at $8.9 billion.
The selection is a major step, though the agreements have not yet been finalized. GDOT’s project announcement puts their anticipated signing in December 2026.
What would change for drivers
The project would add barrier-separated express lanes alongside the existing general-purpose lanes. Drivers would have a choice about whether to use the new lanes…