A large crowd attended an informational session at Dunwoody City Hall on July 16 about a massive express lane proposed for the top end of Interstate 285, but not everyone in the crowd was receptive to yet another long-term construction project.
The so-called I-285 Top End Express Lanes project would involve a three-phase construction to add two express lanes in both directions of I-285 from South Atlanta Road to the west and east to Henderson Road, according to documents released by the Georgia Department of Transportation.
The timeline and beginning point of the construction has yet to be determined, but people close to the discussions say that it would be unlikely to start until 2027 or beyond.
The lanes would be designed, constructed, financed, and maintained by a yet-to-be-named private sector partner, according to the GDOT. Single users would pay for the use of the roadways, but state-registered van pools and transit vehicles would use the lanes for free.
The GDOT predicts that drivers using the express lane would see a 39% reduction in travel times. Other listed benefits include congestion reduction and more predictable travel times for those using the regular and express lanes.
At the open house, dozens of GDOT representatives were on hand, explaining the dozen or so placards outlining the scope and impact of the proposed project, as well as a visualization video of the completed lanes in action.
Several attendees, including Dunwoody’s former and current mayor, said they had significant concerns about the proposed construction, now and in the future.
“It’s very complex and the cost will be massive,” former Dunwoody Mayor Dennis Shortal said. “Whoever put this together is a lot smarter than me, but I have concerns.”
Mayor Lynn Deutsch said, while she was thrilled with the crowd turnout, she had “major reservations about the Top End Express Lane project.”
“However, as mayor, I have the obligation to work with the GDOT to minimize the impact on Dunwoody and maximize any possible benefit of this project for Dunwoody,” Deutsch said.
Dunwoody Homeowners Association President Bob Fiscella said he was struggling to see any benefits for area residents.
“This just shows you how to avoid Dunwoody,” he said. “I don’t see how it would help Dunwoody homeowners, and by the time this is done, there will still be so many more problems to deal with.”
Other attendees mentioned that they were “construction-weary” after the years-long I-285 road widening project, which is nearing completion.
At the open house, GDOT officials provided attendees with paper questionnaires to provide feedback regarding the project.
The GDOT has held several other public forums during July, including ones in Doraville and Smyrna. This was the first of two open houses in the Dunwoody/Sandy Spring area. The second one will be held July 18 from 4-7 p.m. at City Springs. The GDOT has also provided several conduits through which people can express their thoughts:
This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Rough Draft Atlanta.
