UPDATE: GDOT Expands Georgia 400 'Flexible' Shoulder Lanes in Sandy Springs

Photo credit: Patch file

UPDATE at 1:15 p.m. Oct. 16: GDOT now says the new northbound shoulder lane from State Route 120/Old Milton Parkway to Windward Parkway also will be open to traffic during the morning commute from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., each weekday “to accommodate the many individuals who work in the Windward corridor.”

ORIGINAL STORY

More of the popular rush-hour, flexible, shoulder lanes will be implemented along Georgia 400, Gov. Nathan Deal and the state Department of Transportation said on Wednesday.

The lanes allow rush-hour commuters to drive on reinforced outside (right) roadway shoulders for limited time periods.

Currently, these lanes are in morning use southbound between Holcomb Bridge Road and Northridge Road and between Northridge and the North Springs MARTA Station exit.

Starting Friday, afternoon flexible shoulder lanes will be available northbound as well between the MARTA Station and Northridge and farther north between State Route 120/Old Milton Parkway and Windward Parkway, officials said.

“Access to an additional lane during the busiest hours on Ga. 400 is not only beneficial to commuters, but it will maximize the use of our existing infrastructure,” Gov. Deal said. “We will continue our efforts – big and small – to improve travel conditions on Ga. 400 and all of the freeways serving metro Atlanta.”

GDOT began allowing travel in the current southbound shoulder lanes in 2012 after the governor asked it to examine and pursue easy-to-implement and inexpensive steps that could be taken to offer immediate relief to commuters. The lanes were well-received and did provide some congestion relief during GA 400’s most heavy southbound traffic periods; thus, Georgia DOT is expanding the program to other segments along the Hospitality Highway.

Driving on the new northbound flexible shoulder lanes will be permissible between the hours of 4 and 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays only. As with the current southbound shoulder lanes, a 45-mph advisory speed limit will be posted for shoulder lane traffic. Accident or disabled vehicle pull-off sites will be available adjacent to each of the new shoulder lanes.

GDOT will open an additional southbound shoulder lane between North Springs MARTA and Abernathy Road later this month or in early November and expects to open another southbound lane between Mansell Road and Holcomb Bridge and a northbound lane between Abernathy and North Springs MARTA in the months to come.

As a reminder to Georgia 400 commuters, driving in southbound flexible shoulder lanes is permissible only between 6:30 a.m., and 10 a.m., and only on weekdays.

GDOT urges motorists on this busy corridor – and all Georgia roads – to always drive cautiously, courteously, undistracted and unimpaired.