ATLANTA — The state has approved a record setting project to put new lanes on Georgia 400. The $4 billion construction will add express lanes with space for public transit.
Gridlock on Georgia 400 has wasted hours of Evan Kuikendall’s life.
"Six, seven hours stuck in traffic just last month," the Brookhaven man said on Friday. "It’s just how it is in Atlanta."
"It's always backed up; accident every day. Seven days a week," added Trenell Bluett of Sandy Springs.
It’s a story state officials hear far too often. For years, they’ve tried to find a way to affordably add lanes of traffic to 400. This week, they think they found it.
"This was a tremendous win because the taxpayers are not going to have to fund the construction of this project," said Russell McMurry, the state DOT commissioner, after the state transportation board voted to approve a contract with a private entity that will build new lanes and collect tolls on the lanes for 50 years.
"Better infrastructure, more infrastructure with basically no additional taxpayer dollars needed," McMurry said.
The new express lanes will be built for 16 miles in both directions from the North Springs MARTA station to beyond McFarland Parkway. The tolls would fluctuate depending on traffic volume.
Bluett says he’ll try it.
"Hopefully, it works out, and maybe it'll clear it out and stop some of these accidents from happening," he said.
Commuters now, in the meantime, will need to be patient. It’ll be 2031 before it’s finished.