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Contact: Ann Honious, 678-538-1200
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga.— The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to authorize the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to construct two additional bridges at the I-285/Chattahoochee River crossing, within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, a unit managed by the NPS, to accommodate new express lanes. These new bridges are crucial to the proposed expansion, intended to improve traffic efficiency and manage high-volume traffic more effectively along I-285 as part of the proposed Interstate 285 (I-285) Top End Express Lane Project. The proposed project would construct express lanes in each direction along approximately 19 miles of I-285.
The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is a designated Section 4(f) resource, which mandates special consideration to avoid and minimize impacts to parks, recreation areas, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and historic sites. The project must comply with environmental regulations to minimize impacts on the natural habitat and recreational value of the area. The FHWA and GDOT have prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for public review regarding the proposed I-285 Top End Express Lane Project. The environmental documentation thoroughly assesses potential short-term and long-term effects on the river ecosystem including wetlands, air quality, soundscape, viewshed, and recreational activities.
Additionally, a floodplain and wetlands statement of findings has been prepared, as required by NPS policy, to explain why the preferred alternative would have adverse impacts on NPS floodplains and wetlands. This document outlines the mitigation process for adverse effects on these NPS resources due to the construction of two new bridges across the Chattahoochee River.
The FHWA and GDOT DEIS and NPS statement of findings (Appendix H-11) is available online at: Environmental | I-285 Top End Express Lanes (arcgis.com).
Public comments should be made to: Eric Duff, State Environmental Administrator Georgia Department of Transportation 600 West Peachtree Street, NW – 16th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30308 or email TopEndExpressLanes@dot.ga.gov or go to https://i285topendexpresslanes-gdot.hub.arcgis.com. Comments on the DEIS and NPS statement of findings are due by July 29, 2024.
About Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Designated as a unit of the National Park System in 1978, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area preserves and protects the natural and cultural resources of the 48-mile Chattahoochee River corridor from Buford Dam to Peachtree Creek. The park annually welcomes over 3,000,000 visitors.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 429 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Last updated: June 13, 2024