DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Tuesday marks the last opportunity for drivers to speak their minds about proposed express lanes on I-285 in DeKalb County.
The stretch of I-285 between Henderson Road and I-20 is one of the busiest roadways in the state and part of a $10 billion project that could take years will see major upgrades.
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The Georgia Department of Transportation estimates that 200,000 cars, trucks and SUVs travel across the 13-mile stretch every day.
To ease some of that congestion, GDOT wants to build two barrier-separated express lanes in both directions of the interstate.
“How do we move people around? I mean, we got to figure out something. That’s a lot of traffic,” driver Monique Richmond told Channel 2′s Sophia Choi.
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A private company would design, build, finance and operate the lanes. In turn, the company would get future toll money.
“We paid for that highway. We shouldn’t have to pay again, just to drive on it. It’s unfair,” driver Rick Claussen said.
Right now, GDOT is considering four options for the toll express lanes, including elevated lanes and others at road “grade level.” But they want the community’s input.
They say that about 250 homes will likely be affected by the construction.
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