The Georgia Department of Transportation is set to open a new access ramp connecting Akers Mill Road to the Northwest Corridor Express Lanes over Interstate 75 on Jan. 24. This will be the 12th access point for the express lanes, as reported by FOX5 Atlanta. "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," according to Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry.
A new $26.5 million ramp will improve access to the Cumberland Community Improvement District, helping drivers reach places like Cumberland Mall and Truist Park. The ramp will serve as an exit for southbound travelers in the morning and an entrance for northbound drivers in the evening. The project aims to ease congestion on the Northwest Corridor Express Lanes, which require a Peach Pass or compatible toll pass. State Road and Tollway Authority 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." The lanes are dynamically priced to reduce traffic, according to Cobb County Courier.
The new 0.7-mile project includes a reversible 24-foot-wide lane with safety features, stretching from near the Akers Mill Bridge to just south of the Windy Ridge Parkway Bridge. Bob Voyles, Chairman of the Cumberland CID Board of Directors, called it a "landmark achievement" for the community, benefiting over 3,700 businesses and 31,000 residents. The project is a collaboration between the Atlanta Regional Commission, Cobb County, Cumberland Community Improvement District, and Georgia Department of Transportation, aimed at improving mobility and traffic flow in Atlanta's fifth-largest job center, as stated by FOX5 Atlanta.
