A massive construction plan to build express I-285 toll lanes along Atlanta’s notorious traffic bottleneck is moving forward.
The Georgia State Transportation Board announced on the 15th that it has selected the Top End Mobility Group as the private consortium responsible for constructing and operating the toll lanes along the eastern section of the I-285 top-end northern perimeter.
The project, running from construction kickoff in 2028 through 2042, features an estimated $8.9 billion price tag solely for design and construction. Under this public-private partnership, the private developer covers construction costs in exchange for securing toll revenue rights across a roughly 20-mile stretch for the next 50 years.
Notably, the consortium proposed paying Georgia $23.6 billion for the project rights and reimbursing the state $515 million previously spent on project preparations. This makes the public-private collaboration the largest transportation initiative in Georgia history.
Construction will roll out in phases starting in 2028. Phase 1 adds two toll lanes across roughly 20 miles along the outer loop of eastern I-285. Phase 2 follows with the addition of two lanes on the opposite inner loop direction. A long-term plan further extends the toll lanes down to the I-20 East interchange.
Existing general-use I-285 lanes will remain untouched, with the separate express toll lanes built alongside them to give drivers a choice depending on traffic conditions. The first outer loop toll lanes are slated to open in 2034, while the full eastern I-285 toll lane project spans out to 2042.
The project footprint includes the spaghetti junction area where I-85 and I-285 intersect, a familiar landmark for Korean drivers, pointing to long-term traffic impacts. While the new toll lanes offer drivers an alternate travel option down the road, motorists must endure extensive construction and traffic disruptions starting in 2028 that will last for over a decade.
The eastern section of I-285 already suffers from chronic congestion not just on weekdays, but during weekends as well. According to GDOT, vehicle speeds on I-285 drop below 55 mph for roughly eight hours daily, with traffic volume projected to jump another 25% over the next 15 years.
The I-285 project forms part of the state transportation department’s broader long-term strategy to link metro Atlanta’s express toll lanes into a unified network. Express lanes already operate on I-85, I-75, and I-575, while a 16-mile toll lane project is underway on GA 400 with a targeted 2031 opening. Future plans also target toll lanes on the western I-285 top-end.
These new express lanes will accommodate not only passenger vehicles but also express bus transit routes. State officials expect this integration to boost the reliability and travel speed of buses even in heavily congested zones.
