Ga. 400 could get a makeover to ease traffic congestion

NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Traffic in metro Atlanta is a constant struggle but one new possible solution could be coming to Georgia 400.

Everyone agrees new express lanes on Ga. 400 will help fix one of the biggest bottlenecks in the metro area, as traffic backs up each morning and afternoon.

The issue in Alpharetta is where to put one of the future entrances and exits.

Current plans call for the new ramps at Old Milton Parkway.

The city would like it south, down near North Point Mall, where there is already a bridge to tie into at Encore Parkway.

GDOT prefers closer to the heart of the city near Webb Bridge Road, between Old Milton and Windward Parkways.

On Friday, Alpharetta's mayor sent a letter to GDOT expressing concerns over the design.

He says access to the new express lanes will cause more congestion on surface streets and impact surrounding communities.

"It might help on 400, but not necessarily on the east-west and the neighborhood streets around that."

"We've gone through many iterations of different designs, different access points, areas we'll need.

And part of that is a negotiation back and forth with these communities," Natalie Dale with GDOT said.

Georgia's Department of Transportation says nothing is final yet. Right now, they are also working on property acquisition.

They want to buy the least amount of land as possible.

That is one reason the new express lanes on each side of Ga. 400 will be mostly elevated, similar to the reversible lanes now on Interstate 75

Cox Media Group