ATLANTA -- State and federal leaders broke ground Wednesday, April 22, on the SR 400 Express Lanes, launching what officials call the largest transportation infrastructure investment in Georgia history.
The project, led by the Georgia Department of Transportation and its partners, will add dynamically priced express lanes along a 16-mile stretch from the North Springs MARTA Station to north of McFarland Parkway. Construction is underway in Fulton and Forsyth counties and is expected to continue through 2031.
Officials say the lanes will give drivers a faster, more reliable option -- moving traffic up to 30% quicker than general-purpose lanes -- while keeping existing lanes free. Drivers will use Peach Pass or similar transponders, with toll rates displayed in real time.
The project is being delivered through a public-private partnership involving Georgia DOT, the State Road and Tollway Authority, and SR 400 Peach Partners. The agreement includes a record $3.89 billion federal loan, reducing reliance on state funds. Under the deal, the developer will design, build, finance, operate, and maintain the lanes over a 55-year term.
Federal funding comes through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, marking the largest loan ever awarded to a single borrower.
Federal Highway Administration Administrator Sean McMaster pointed to the loan, praising the Trump Administration for "leveraging every tool in our toolbox ... to Get America Building Again." He said the agency's "Freedom to Drive" initiative aims to show how federal, state, and private resources can work together to build a faster, more reliable transportation system.
The SR 400 Express Lanes project is the largest public-private partnership of its kind in the country, according to Brian Kemp, who called it "a historic milestone for Georgia" that highlights the power of innovative infrastructure investment.
In addition to easing congestion, the project will support future MARTA bus rapid transit service, with planned stations at Holcomb Bridge Road, North Point Mall, and Windward Park & Ride.
Drivers will soon see construction equipment moving into place, along with new work zones and phased traffic shifts as the project ramps up. Crews will work during the day and overnight, with most nighttime work scheduled from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. to limit daytime traffic disruptions.
Motorists should stay alert in work zones and use Georgia 511 and the project website for travel updates, weekly construction alerts, and monthly news.
Drivers can expect ongoing construction activity, including periodic lane shifts and overnight work, throughout the life of the project.