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New Akers Mill Road Northwest Corridor Express Lanes Access Point Opening in Late January
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ATLANTA, GA - The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) is pleased to announce the anticipated Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, opening for a new Cumberland area access ramp to the popular Northwest Corridor Express Lanes from Akers Mill Road over Interstate 75.
Once open in late January, the Northwest Corridor's 12th and newest access point will improve mobility and trip-time reliability facilitating direct flow to and from the Cumberland Community Improvement District (Cumberland CID), a major commercial and residential activity center. The ramp will serve southbound express lanes users as an exit in the mornings and northbound express lanes users as an entrance in the evenings.
"We have seen tremendous usage of the Northwest Corridor Express Lanes since their opening in 2018 with travel times 27 percent faster than the general-purpose lanes," said Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell McMurry. "One of our goals at the Georgia DOT is to ensure the projects we are completing improve safety and efficiency for Georgia motorists. By creating this new access point, commuters will have a more efficient way to access the Express Lanes system from the Cumberland area."
The express lanes are optional, dynamically priced managed lanes that provide a choice for drivers to bypass congestion, have a predictable and reliable trip and improve mobility for express lanes users and transit riders. The State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) operates the tolled transportation facilities and manages the collection of tolls on Georgia's Express Lanes System using Peach Pass. Users must have an active Peach Pass or interoperable toll pass (E-ZPass, Sun Pass, E-Pass and Quick Pass) to access the Express Lanes.
Federal, State, and local funding made the $26.5 million construction project possible, including contributions from the Atlanta Regional Commission, Georgia DOT, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank operated by SRTA, and Cobb County, in partnership with Cumberland CID.
SRTA Executive Director Jannine Miller said, "We are excited to offer an additional option for Peach Pass customers to access the popular Northwest Corridor Express Lanes system at Akers Mill Road."
"Considering the economic vitality of the Cumberland area, the State Road and Tollway Authority was proud to include this project in our investment portfolio," Miller said. "Cumberland CID has been leading in transportation innovation for decades and the completion of this impactful project is another example of how we can collectively bring value to Georgia's businesses."
Located along I-75 in the thriving northwest corridor of the greater Atlanta Region, Cumberland serves as Atlanta's fifth largest job center and a major culture and entertainment destination with a $26.6 billion annual economic impact on Georgia's economy. Over 3,700 businesses and 31,000 residents call Cumberland home, and the access ramp improves traffic flow to and from popular destinations.
"The anticipated Akers Mill Ramp Express Lanes opening is a landmark achievement for the Cumberland Community Improvement District," said Bob Voyles, Chairman of the Cumberland CID Board of Directors. "This significant infrastructure investment by our commercial property owners and partners will give commuters a direct access point in and out of the heart of the Cumberland market, completing the successful I-75 NW Corridor Express Lane project. This partnership marks another feather in the cap for the Cumberland community, Cobb County, and the Atlanta metro region.
"The Atlanta Regional Commission was proud to partner with the Cumberland CID and allocate funding for this project, which will improve mobility and safety in one of the region's most important economic hubs," said Atlanta Regional Commission Executive Director and CEO Anna Roach. "This is another example of the Cumberland CID's commitment to making the innovative investments needed to keep this fast-growing area a great place to live, work and play."
The project begins approximately 400 feet south of the existing Akers Mill Bridge over I-75 and ends approximately 275 feet south of the existing Windy Ridge Parkway bridge for a total project mainline length of 0.7 miles. Previous access to Northwest Corridor Express Lanes was a slip ramp/merge access point just north of Akers Mill Road. The new access ramp features gates at both the entry and exit point to ensure safety for reversible travel directions.
The ramp is 24-foot wide for the reversible lanes plus break-down shoulders and will widen to 50 feet at Akers Mill. It also features a barrier-separated entrance to the northbound managed lanes.
C.W. Matthews was the lead construction contractor managed by Georgia DOT's District 7. Georgia DOT Traffic Operations is responsible for "Go-Live" coordination prior to SRTA tolling and operations. Once open to the public, GDOT will be responsible for gate operations and the direction of the roadway. SRTA will facilitate access ramp tolling.
More information is available on the project website at https://0015051-gdot.hub.arcgis.com/ as well as a useful animation showing how drivers will use this ramp https://youtu.be/Es9CuJZcIN0.
Clear signage on how to use the system will be displayed along the corridor. Information on obtaining and using the Peach Pass is available at www.PeachPass.com or by calling the Peach Pass Customer Service Center at 1-855-PCH- PASS (724-7277).
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Georgia Department of Transportation plans, constructs and maintains Georgia's state and federal highways. We're involved in bridge, waterway, public transit, rail, general aviation, bike and pedestrian programs. And we help local governments maintain their roads. Georgia DOT and its nearly 4,000 employees are committed to delivering a transportation system focused on innovation, safety, sustainability and mobility. The Department's vision is to boost Georgia's competitiveness through leadership in transportation.
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