Construction work is now underway for the $4.6 billion Georgia 400 Express Lanes Project in Atlanta. The work is intended to boost capacity and reduce traffic delays on a 26km section of the SR 400 corridor and the project will be carried out under the PPP model.
Express lanes will be added in each direction between the MARTA North Springs Station and McFarland Parkway. The project is due for completion in 2031, reducing traffic delays as well as crashes. A consortium, comprising ACCIONA, ACS Infrastructure and Meridiam, has the concession to finance, design, build, operate and maintain the SR400 Express Lanes highway in Atlanta. The consortium is carrying out design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of the highway extension for 55 years.
The project will deliver two express lanes between North Springs Station and north of McFarland Parkway. The work also includes an express lane between McGinnis Ferry Road and McFarland Parkway as well as work to several bridges such as Pitts Road, Roberts Drive and Kimball Bridge. The project also includes improvements to MARTA and XPress bus connections, as well as funding for future bus rapid transit (BRT) improvements.
MARTA will operate the BRT system, which is expected to share the express lanes for around 19km. The concession fee will help fund other roadway projects as part of the PPP agreement.
Some of the funding required has been supplied by the US Department of Transportation. The project has also had input from the Georgia Department of Transportation.
