Starting on Monday, June 15, the Georgia Department of Transportation will open five additional miles of flex shoulder lanes on Georgia 400.

Commuters who travel on 400 northbound will have four more miles of flex shoulder lanes to use during the morning and afternoon rush hours. The northbound flex shoulder lanes will begin at Abernathy Road to the MARTA North Springs Station; MARTA North Springs Station to Northridge Road; and SR 120/ Old Milton Parkway to Windward Parkway.

On 400 southbound, commuters will have one more mile of flex shoulder lane to use during peak travel hours. The new lane will start at the MARTA North Springs Station and end at Abernathy Road.

“We are implementing a quick response project to lengthen the flex shoulder lane sections on Georgia 400,” said Kathy Zahul, Metro District Engineer. “The flex shoulder lane provides an additional travel lane for commuters during the peak hours. This is one of our relatively low-cost/quick turnaround operational strategies designed to get as much efficiency as we can out of the highway network.”

The Georgia DOT will construct additional flex shoulder lanes from Holcomb Bridge Road to SR 120/ Old Milton Parkway. The total project will cost $850,000.

Collin Kelley is the executive editor of Atlanta Intown, Georgia Voice, and the Rough Draft newsletter. He has been a journalist for nearly four decades and is also an award-winning poet and novelist.