A private consortium reportedly has proposed putting truck-only toll lanes along Interstate 285 around the west side of Atlanta. According to the Associated Press, the group pitched its idea to the state Board of Transportation Wednesday, June 14, during a meeting in Savannah, Ga.
The plan, AP reported, is to build the I-285 project by 2014 — about the same time for completion of the Interstate 75 project that just went under contract and has truck lanes. The proposal for the western stretch of I-285 calls for two truck-only toll lanes heading each way — narrowing to one lane as they go west on Interstate 20.
The plan calls for DOT to hire the group of Goldman Sachs along with an engineering firm and a law firm to help develop and finance the possible expansion off I-285 and I-20. DOT staff told AP it soon will know whether the proposal meets preliminary criteria.
The concept of truck-only toll lanes gained popularity after a general study by the State Road and Tollway Authority suggested it could be beneficial, according to AP.
