Northwest Corridor Express Lanes Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — The Georgia Department of Transportation is celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Northwest Corridor (NWC) Express Lanes by reflecting on its unprecedented success. Opened Sept. 8, 2018, the express lanes extend along I-75 and I-575 in Cobb and Cherokee counties and include 29.7 miles of tolled reversible express lanes.

In just eight months of operation, more than 4.2 million trips have been registered posting travel speeds 30 percent faster than the general purpose lanes. As a result, the corridor’s rush hour has been reduced by more than one hour during both the morning and evening commutes, benefiting both Peach Pass motorists and drivers in the general purpose lanes.

The Northwest Corridor Express Lanes reached seven million trips on day 347 of operation, less than a year. That’s almost equivalent to every single resident of metro Atlanta taking a single trip in the express lanes. With more than seven million trips registered, travel speeds are 30 percent faster than the general purpose lanes. As a result, rush hour has been reduced by over one hour in both morning and evening commutes, giving significant time back to commuters formerly spent in congestion.

The express lanes project has recently been recognized with several prestigious awards including the National Award of Merit (Transportation) by the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) and the state award in the “Large Project-Overall” category by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Last year it was named the No. 1 project on the 2018 Roads & Bridges Top 10 Roads list.

Additionally, the NWC Express Lanes is in the running for the People’s Choice Award in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) America’s Transportation Awards. GDOT is encouraging everyone to vote. Votes can be cast once every 24 hours through Oct. 6.

“As we celebrate the Northwest Corridor Express Lanes’ one year of successful operation, we can firmly say that this project provides a clear glimpse into the future of metro Atlanta’s connected transportation network,” said GDOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry. “We are taking a moment to celebrate the significant achievement of this project, but our focus remains on continuing to deliver major projects that build upon and complement the Northwest Corridor Express Lanes and meet the ever-evolving transportation needs of our state.”

Construction for the NWC Express Lanes project began in November 2013 and took approximately five years to complete. It represents the largest, single investment in Georgia’s transportation infrastructure, one of the most transformative projects in state history, and the most innovative express lanes project in the country. Users of the general purpose lanes adjacent to the express lanes have also benefited. In April 2018, before NWC opening, the average speed on I-75 northbound between I-285 and I-575 at rush hour’s peak was 20 mph. In April, after NWC opening, the average speed doubled at 40 mph.

“Traffic has been a big concern for many decades in Atlanta, said Atlanta Braves President and CEO Mike Plant. “The improvement of the managed lanes is what many people refer to as ‘the magic carpet ride.’ People are seeing incredible results and it’s creating a better quality of life for our fans and visitors.”

This express lanes corridor is just one that make up the Georgia Express Lanes network, which provide more reliable trip times and increase transit options that facilitate the region’s growth. Georgia DOT’s Major Mobility Investment Program includes four more express lanes projects that will build on the success of this corridor by offering more choices for our motorists and contribute to the economic vitality of the region.