GDOT Awarded $184M Grant For Ga. 400 Express Lanes

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — The U.S. Department of Transportation announced this week that Georgia will receive a $184 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant for a project to install express lanes along S.R. 400 in North Fulton and Forsyth counties.

Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell McMurry joined Transportation Secretary Secretary Elaine Chao for a press conference on Friday in Washington D.C., announcing the investments through the grant awards.

The INFRA program provided about $1.5 billion nationwide for fiscal year 2017-18 in dedicated, discretionary funding for projects that address critical issues facing our nation’s highways and bridges.

“Georgia is fortunate to have devoted advocates in Washington championing transportation progress for our state,” McMurry said. “Senators (Johnny) Isakson and (David) Perdue, Congresswoman (Karen) Handel and Congressman (Rob) Woodall continue to fight for our vital infrastructure, and the awarding of this grant reflects their dedication to keeping Georgians moving forward."

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here)

The commissioner also said GDOT is grateful for the "vision and support" of Gov. Nathan Deal, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and House Speaker David Ralston in bringing the project to fruition.

In an effort to improve mobility and "enhance economic vitality," GDOT plans to increase capacity along Ga. 400 by adding these new, optional express lanes from the North Springs MARTA Station in Sandy Springs to McFarland Parkway in Forsyth County.

When complete, the project – projected to cost $1.8 billion – will connect to other future and existing Georgia DOT projects that work in conjunction to build a better Georgia by enhancing mobility and safety while fueling growth. The project is a public-private partnership that will add 65 lane miles and is expected to reduce traffic delays by up to 18 percent, GDOT notes.

The SR 400 Express Lanes project is one of four Express Lane expansion projects and 11 projects overall included in the state’s Major Mobility Investment Program. Other areas slated to get express lanes include I-285 between I-20 and I-85 on the east side of metro Atlanta; I-285 from I-75 to I-20 on the west side; and I-285 from I-75 to I-75 on the top end of the perimeter. You can view a complete list of other Major Mobility Investment Program projects by clicking here.

Image via Shutterstock