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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Georgia’s State Transportation Board has approved Top End Mobility Group (TEMG), a Ferrovial-led consortium that includes Tikehau Star Infra, as the apparent best-value proposer for Phase 1 of the I-285 East Express Lanes project. The private partner is expected to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the lanes for 50 years. The selection is not yet the final contract: commercial close and contract signing are expected in December 2026.
What GDOT selected
TEMG was selected for the first construction phase on the eastern, or “top end,” section of I-285. The project is a public-private partnership in which the consortium would handle design, construction, financing, operations and maintenance over a 50-year concession.
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Approval by the State Transportation Board establishes TEMG as the apparent best-value proposer. Georgia still must reach commercial close and sign the agreement, which GDOT expects in December 2026. Until then, the final financial, technical and operating terms remain subject to contract completion.
Phase 1 limits
Phase 1 covers approximately 19 to 21 miles of I-285, connecting the corridor with SR 400 and I-85. It would add two barrier-separated express lanes in each direction while retaining the existing free general-purpose lanes.
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The full program
The larger I-285 program is planned to add about 34 miles of barrier-separated express lanes in both directions between Northside Drive and the I-285/I-20 interchange. Ferrovial describes the completed program as approximately 37.5 new express-lane miles in each direction. The difference reflects how the program’s mileage is counted and should not be read as a change to the Phase 1 limits.
Why the bid is a record for Georgia
Ferrovial estimates Phase 1 design and construction at $8.9 billion. Separately, GDOT-reported coverage says TEMG offered Georgia a $23.6 billion concession fee. The consortium would pay an additional $515 million to reimburse state expenses at financial close, bringing the fee and reimbursement described by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to $24.1 billion.
| Figure | What it represents | Timing or qualification |
|---|---|---|
| $8.9 billion | Expected Phase 1 design and construction value | Ferrovial estimate for 2026 |
| $23.6 billion | Concession fee offered to Georgia | Paid in six equal annual installments after financial close |
| $515 million | Reimbursement of state expenses | Paid at financial close |
| $24.1 billion | Concession fee plus reimbursement | Combined figure reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution |
| $4 billion | Previous Georgia concession record for the Ga. 400 project | Surpassed by the I-285 offer |
The concession money is restricted, so Georgia cannot simply treat the entire amount as immediately spendable general revenue. The payment schedule and restrictions are part of the public-private financing structure.
When construction and opening are expected
- December 2026: GDOT expects commercial close and final contract signing.
- Late 2027 or 2028: Construction is expected to begin, subject to finalizing the agreement and project preparations.
- Around 2034: Phase 1 substantial completion and opening are projected.
- Around 2041–2042: The remaining phases of the broader I-285 express-lanes program are projected for completion.
GDOT may award future phases to TEMG without opening another competitive procurement, but the agency retains discretion. Construction sequencing, the final schedule and the boundaries of later phases can change before work starts.
What drivers will pay and how the lanes will work
Dynamic tolling
The express lanes will use dynamic pricing, so the toll can change with traffic conditions. The current maximum is $2.06 per mile, a figure adjusted for inflation and traffic data. The operator may temporarily charge above that cap when express-lane speeds fall below the project’s 45-mph guarantee. The final schedule of rates and operating rules will be set before the lanes open and could change during the long concession.
Payment equipment
Drivers will pay with Peach Pass or an interoperable toll transponder. Anyone planning to use the lanes should confirm that their transponder is compatible before opening; the project is not designed as a free, untolled bypass.
Free lanes remain
The project does not replace the existing free general-purpose lanes. Those lanes will remain available, while the new express lanes provide an optional, barrier-separated route for drivers willing to pay for a more predictable trip.
Why GDOT says I-285 needs added capacity
GDOT says I-285 carries approximately 250,000 vehicles per day and experiences congestion for an average of eight hours daily. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that traffic currently moves below 55 mph for eight hours of the day. GDOT forecasts traffic to increase by 25% over the next 15 years, which is the central demand argument for adding managed lanes rather than relying only on the existing roadway.
Best Value
Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry described the challenge as, “So much for a rush hour. It’s a rush day.” He also said, “We’ve got quite the journey ahead of us, but it’s going to be worth it.” Those comments reflect the project’s long construction and delivery horizon: drivers may not see Phase 1 benefits until roughly 2034.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the project could support MARTA buses
The lanes are being designed to accommodate future bus rapid transit. Buses would be allowed to use the express lanes without paying tolls, and the contract’s speed guarantee is intended to give transit a dependable operating path even when the free lanes are congested.
MARTA’s preliminary service plan identifies nine potential bus routes along the eastern top of I-285. “Potential” is important: the routes are not a final service commitment, and MARTA would still need to complete planning, funding and implementation decisions. The express-lane project creates the right-of-way opportunity; it does not by itself establish a launch date or complete transit network.
What is decided—and what is not
- Decided: The State Transportation Board approved TEMG as the apparent best-value proposer for Phase 1.
- Not yet final: Commercial close and contract signing are expected in December 2026.
- Planned: Two tolled express lanes in each direction, with existing free lanes preserved.
- Projected: Construction in late 2027 or 2028 and Phase 1 opening around 2034.
- Subject to change: Toll rates, construction sequencing, future-phase awards and MARTA’s eventual bus routes.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said the state aims to use private investment and other infrastructure financing approaches to meet the needs of fast-growing regions. The I-285 deal puts that approach on a larger scale than the state’s prior concession record, but its value to drivers will ultimately depend on construction delivery, reliable speeds, toll levels and whether the planned transit connections materialize.
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