GDOT making new access point for I-85 HOT lanes

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.,None — The Georgia Department of Transportation says they are working on making a new access point along the Interstate 85 HOT lanes.

They expect to have the new access point open by about noon on Sunday.

Crews have been re-striping the HOT lane near the Boggs Road overpass in Lawrenceville.

The State Road and Tollway Authority said the area is the safest and most viable place for a new southbound access point.

"The new access point will begin just south of the 120 bridge over 85 and go for about 4,500 feet," Teri Pope of GDOT said.

Drivers approaching the temporary entrance to the HOT lanes will see a ground mounted sign and a changeable message sign side by side that will display the toll rate for the nearest exit on the 16-mile stretch of HOT lanes.

GDOT said they decided to put another access point along I-85 after commuters demanded it.

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"The section we've been talking about was about six miles between access points. So we went back through and did a study of the use of the lanes and found we do need to add another southbound entrance point," Pope said.

The new access point will be about 3 and a half miles south of the express lane entrance near Old Peachtree Road and Sugarloaf Parkway.

Without it, commuters had to either drive miles to get on or illegally cross double white lines to gain entrance to the HOT lanes.

"It will allow more people to enter into the express lanes and use it for a longer distance," Pope said.

GDOT said you can use the new access point as soon as the striping is done Sunday.

WSBTV