The Daily Dig
Georgia's SR 400 Express Lanes project broke ground April 22 on one of the state's most critical transportation corridors. Construction costs total $4.6 billion against a total project investment of $10.8 billion, covering 16 miles of State Route 400 north of Atlanta from the North Springs MARTA Station in Fulton County to McFarland Parkway in Forsyth County.
The Georgia DOT selected SR 400 Peach Partners, a consortium of ACS Infra, Acciona, and French asset manager Meridiam, as the developer under a 56-year public-private partnership that includes a 5.5-year construction period and 50 years of toll operations. FlatironDragados and Acciona Construction lead the build under a joint venture, with Parsons serving as lead design engineer.
The scope includes dynamically priced express lanes in both directions while keeping existing general-purpose lanes free. The team will also upgrade the SR 400/I-285 interchange, build new bridges, and install corridor-wide technology systems to manage traffic flow and safety. The project supports existing MARTA service and lays groundwork for future bus rapid transit improvements along the corridor.
Financing runs through a TIFIA federal credit assistance loan, tax-exempt private activity bonds, and committed consortium equity. Crews restarted tree clearing on March 3 following earlier site preparation that began in 2025, and equipment mobilization is now underway. Heavy construction starts this spring with bridge work and interchange upgrades across multiple corridor segments. The express lanes are expected to open in 2031.
Snapshot:
Project: SR 400 Express Lanes
Location: State Route 400, Fulton County to Forsyth County, Georgia
Corridor: North Springs MARTA Station to McFarland Parkway
Scope: 16 miles of managed express lanes, interchange upgrades, new bridges, corridor technology systems
Total Investment: $10.8 billion
Construction Cost: $4.6 billion
Delivery Method: Public-private partnership (P3)
Concession Term: 56 years (5.5-year construction + 50 years toll operations)
Developer/Equity Consortium: SR 400 Peach Partners (ACS Infra, Acciona, Meridiam)
Design-Builder JV: FlatironDragados (Atlanta) and Acciona Construction (Madrid)
Lead Design Engineer: Parsons
Owner/Agency: Georgia DOT and Georgia State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA)
Financing: TIFIA loan, tax-exempt private activity bonds, consortium equity
Groundbreaking: April 22, 2026
Expected Completion: 2031
Program: Georgia Major Mobility Investment Program (MMIP)
Status: Active construction, bridge work and interchange upgrades beginning spring 2026
TheJobWalk Thoughts
Bridge work and interchange upgrades are first in the sequence. Structural concrete, steel, and foundation trades need to be in front of the right people now, before those early packages move.
Construction advances in phases across 16 miles. Packages will roll out in waves, not together, so subs and suppliers who get eyes on the full program early will be better positioned at each release.
This is the first revenue-risk P3 under Georgia's Major Mobility Investment Program. How GDOT handles procurement, risk allocation, and contractor selection here sets the model for every corridor deal that follows. The broader MMIP pipeline is worth watching.
