The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) continues its commitment to improving statewide mobility and building a connected transportation network by announcing schedule adjustments and refinements to the Major Mobility Investment Program (MMIP). The ambitious program is the first of its kind in the country and was created to build a better Georgia through enhanced mobility and safety, fuel economic growth, and improve quality of life. With these major projects, Georgia DOT will deliver some of the nation’s most innovative transportation solutions and newest engineering and technological advances.

“As the MMIP has developed and design work has progressed, we’ve evaluated how we are delivering the program and refined it to advance six improvement projects along I-285,” said Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry. “Advancing these improvement projects, which were already part of the MMIP, will bring improvements to our region and local communities sooner and help mitigate disruptive construction congestion during the major express lanes’ construction.”
 
In addition to the refinement of the six improvement projects along I-285, Georgia DOT will accelerate the I-85 Widening, Phase 2 project in Jackson County and the I-75 Commercial Vehicle Lanes project south of metro Atlanta. The advancement of these projects allows local roads to receive improvements earlier, alleviation of traffic congestion sooner, and improvements for freight mobility faster.
 
After listening to industry feedback regarding the quantity and timing of major project procurements, the delivery schedules for the I-285 Eastside Express Lanes, I-285 Westside Express Lanes, and I-285 Top End Express Lanes projects have also been adjusted. The I-285 Top End Express Lanes project will be constructed as two smaller packages: the I-285 East Metro Express Lanes and the I-285 West Metro Express Lanes. These two packages will cover the same footprint as the I-285 Top End Express Lanes (I-285 from Henderson Road to Paces Ferry Road and north on SR 400 from I-285 to the North Springs MARTA Station).
 
“Due to ongoing fiscal constraints and increasing need to maintain a state of good repair, we are leveraging innovative financing, such as public-private partnerships (P3s) and design-build, to deliver these mobility projects on time and within budget,” said Joe Carpenter, Georgia DOT’s P3 Division Director. “Utilizing P3s allows the state to better allocate resources by leveraging private sector innovation and capital, which also accelerates project delivery and reduces public cost and debt requirements.”
 
Not only do these modifications allow for better competition among the construction industry and provide more opportunities for smaller, local contractors, they also provide improved maintenance of traffic during construction. These modifications provide further opportunities to coordinate and collaborate with partners, such as DeKalb and Fulton counties, the mayors along the top end of I-285, and the ATL, about future transit and transportation endeavors.