Project Profile: I-285/I-20 East Interchange P3, Georgia

Caption: The aerial photo shows the I-285 Interchange at the I-20 East of Atlanta. The interchange improvements will ease traffic congestion through the area and decrease overall travel times for an area that's been called "one of the worst bottlenecks in the country"

Source: Credit to Georgia Department of Transportation

Project Name		I-285/I-20 East Interchange P3, Georgia
Location		In Dekalb County East of Atlanta, Georgia
Project Sponsor / Borrower		Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) & State Road Toll Authority (SRTA)
Program Areas
Value Capture Techniques		N/A
Mode		Highway and Bridge
Description		The I-285/I-20 East Interchange project will improve traffic flow and safety at this busy interchange. This critical junction in DeKalb County requires operational and geometric improvements to address inefficient flow of traffic and safety performance. The project includes ramp reconstruction, construction of collector-distributor lanes between Wesley Chapel and I-285 interchange, and a west-bound auxiliary lane between Lithonia Industrial Boulevard and Panola road. The project results in 18 additional lane miles and consists of: Construct new I-20 westbound (WB) to I-285 southbound (SB), I-20 westbound to I-285 northbound (NB) and I-285 SB to I-20 eastbound (EB) ramps Widen the I-20 EB to I-285 northbound ramp from one to two lanes Construct WB collector-distributor (CD) lanes* between Wesley Chapel Road and I-285/I-20 East Interchange Construct one WB auxiliary lane between Lithonia Industrial Boulevard and Wesley Chapel Road Construct one EB auxiliary lane from Panola Road to Lithonia Industrial Boulevard Extend auxiliary lanes on I-285 NB Extend one auxiliary lane in the I-20 EB CD lanes to the Wesley Chapel Road off-ramp Replace the Miller Road and Fairington Road bridges over I-20, and the I-20 bridge over Snapfinger Creek to accommodate the new auxiliary and CD lanes Replace the Miller Road and Fairington Road bridges over I-20, and the I-20 bridge over Snapfinger Creek to accommodate the new auxiliary and CD lanes This project is part of Georgia's Major Mobility Investment Program (MMIP): The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) is making major investments in the state’s transportation network to deliver projects that will meet a community need and deliver positive benefits to drivers. Major Mobility Investment Program (MMIP) projects were pinpointed that will create additional capacity, improve freight movement, provide transportation improvements and efficiencies, enhance safety, and decrease travel times.
Cost		$691.7 million ($685.5 million in redesign the interchange of interstates 285 and 20 east of Atlanta.)
Funding Sources		Federal, State, & Local GARVEE Bonds: $82M from S2020A The consortium will fund the project through an innovative structure in which a highly rated financial institution headquartered in the United States will fund a gross funded, fixed, rate, tax-exempt loan to the Public Finance Authority.
Project Delivery / Contract Method		DBF Walsh Investors, LLC (an affiliate of Archer Western) will be responsible for arranging the financing for the project.
Private Partner		East Interchange Builders Consortium led by Walsh Construction Group Arcadis, Sub-Contractor Archer Western Construction, Equity Provider E.R. Snell Contractor, Equity Provider Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering, Contractor Raba-Kistner Consultants, Inc., Sub-Contractor Walsh Group, Equity Provider
Project Advisors / Consultants		Greenburg Traurig LLP, Bond Counsel EY, Financial HNTB Corporation, Technical
Lenders		Consortium led by Walsh Construction Group. The consortium will fund the project through an innovative structure in which a highly rated financial institution headquartered in the United States will fund a gross funded, fixed, rate, tax-exempt loan to the Public Finance Authority
Duration / Status		N/A
Financial Status/Financial Performance		The project reached commercial close on June 17 and financial close on July 27, 2022 Construction is anticipated to begin in mid-2023 and complete in early 2027
Innovations		Transform commuting in metro Atlanta in the future. The project will improve the interchange will ease traffic congestion through the area and decrease overall travel times for an area that's been called "one of the worst bottlenecks in the country. Fund the project through an innovative structure in which a highly rated financial institution headquartered in the United States will fund a gross funded, fixed, rate, tax-exempt loan to the Public Finance Authority Use P3s Design-Build-Finance Innovative Project Delivery Improve transit operation & Promotes transit-oriented development Bundle new interchange ramps, add lanes on both highways and replace various bridges.
Related Links / Articles		Georgia Department of Transportation Design, Build, and Finance Agreement for the -285 / I-20 East Interchange Project Technical Provisions for DBF Agreement INFRA Extra State picks contractor for $685.6 million I-285 interchange I-285/I-20 East Interchange
Contacts		Meg Pirkle Chief Engineer for the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) mpirkle@dot.ga.gov Chip Meeks P3-EastInterchange@dot.ga.gov 404-631-1300 Darryl D. VanMeter, P.E. State Innovative Delivery Administrator dvanmeter@dot.ga.gov 404-631- 1703