Alpharetta commuters who count on the northbound Georgia 400 flex lane near Windward Parkway will lose it for good on Dec. 13.
The permanent closure covers about three-quarters of a mile, stretching from just south of the Webb Bridge Road overpass to Exit 11 at Windward Parkway, according to the North Atlanta Star. Weather permitting, contractors will remove the flex-lane signs and striping and install a temporary concrete barrier as construction advances on the Georgia 400 express-lanes project.
Four regular northbound lanes will stay open. Drivers taking Exit 11 will still reach Windward Parkway through the two-lane exit ramp on the right, according to an Alpharetta construction update cited by the North Atlanta Star.
Patch reported the Dec. 13 date on Oct. 15, attributing the announcement to Alpharetta city officials.
Why the lane is going away
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) extended the northbound flex lane from Old Milton Parkway to Windward Parkway in June 2015 as a low-cost way to add rush-hour capacity, according to the North Atlanta Star. The shoulder operated as an extra travel lane during peak periods with a 45 mph advisory speed.
That temporary fix is now giving way to a larger project. Georgia 400 is being widened to add optional toll express lanes between the North Springs MARTA station in Sandy Springs and a point just north of McFarland Parkway in Forsyth County, the North Atlanta Star reported in September. The existing general-purpose lanes will remain free.
GDOT's project schedule anticipates completion in 2031, according to the North Atlanta Star.
What commuters should know
Construction is underway at several points between Sandy Springs and South Forsyth. Daytime work, overnight lane closures and traffic shifts are expected as crews build drainage systems, retaining walls, bridges and new roadway connections, the North Atlanta Star reported.
Drivers who previously moved into the flex lane approaching Windward should allow extra time after Dec. 13 while traffic settles into the new pattern. Four northbound lanes and the Windward exit ramp will remain.
