Akers Mill Express Lane Ramp Breaks Ground In Cobb County

COBB COUNTY, GA — Federal, state and local leaders finally broke ground on the long-awaited Akers Mill express lane ramp Thursday in Cobb County, paving the way to connect the Interstate 75 Northwest Corridor Express Lanes with one of Cobb's popular commercial districts.

Gov. Brian Kemp, U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, the Cumberland Community Improvement District, the Georgia Department of Transportation and business leaders gathered Thursday for the access ramp's groundbreaking.

The $24.2 million first phase of the project, which included widening the Interstate 285 bridge over I-75, was finished in 2018. The second phase — the Akers Mill ramp construction — is estimated to cost about $20 million and is expected to be completed in 2023, according to the Cumberland CID. Meanwhile, GDOT says the ramp will cost $18.2 million.

The new reversible access ramp, which will be the newest of 12 access points for the Northwest Corridor Express Lanes, will serve southbound express lane users as an exit ramp in the morning, and northbound express lane users as an entrance ramp in the evening. It will include gates on both ends to ensure safety, and will span about 24 feet, widening to 50 feet at Akers Mill.

Learn more about the project at GDOT's project hub or at Cumberland CID's website.