Commuters and businesses along McGinnis Ferry Road got their corridor back two days ahead of schedule when the road reopened Friday, July 24, after crews finished replacing a 72-inch storm pipe.

It had been closed five days.

Forsyth County Government announced on X that the contractor completed the work early, restoring traffic flow between the Seven Oaks Parkway–Brassfield Drive area and Sargent Road. The full closure had begun Monday, July 20, and was originally scheduled to last through Sunday, July 26.

New businesses lining up along the corridor

The McGinnis Ferry corridor is also seeing new commercial activity. Sand N Wheels Play Cafe, a roughly 3,000-square-foot hybrid coffeehouse and children's sensory-play space at 5354 McGinnis Ferry Road in Alpharetta, near the Johns Creek–South Forsyth line, is targeting a September 2026 opening, according to North Atlanta Star reporting. A Forsyth County sign permit was issued Thursday, April 9, and the cafe's permanent sign is already mounted above the storefront while interior construction continues. Catrina's Mexican Grill, located at McGinnis Ferry Promenade, also operates along the stretch.

During the five-day closure, through traffic was detoured via Sargent Road to Jones Bridge Road or Brookwood Road to Peachtree Parkway. Deer Lake neighborhood residents were directed to use their entrance from Peachtree Parkway. Neighborhood access remained available throughout, according to WSB-TV's coverage of the closure.

Part of a bigger project

The pipe replacement is one piece of the McGinnis Ferry Road widening project, which will expand the roadway from two to four lanes between Sargent Road and Douglas Road. The project is a partnership among Forsyth County, the City of Johns Creek, the City of Alpharetta, and the Georgia Department of Transportation. Officials from those agencies held a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, according to Forsyth County's project page.

The widening will also add sidewalks and trails connecting to the Big Creek Greenway in Alpharetta and replace the bridge over Caney Creek, according to the City of Johns Creek.

In a 2020 funding agreement, Alpharetta and Johns Creek each committed $8.9 million, Forsyth County committed $23 million, and GDOT contributed $10 million, for a combined commitment of approximately $50.8 million, Appen Media reported in 2023. The current total project cost has not been publicly updated since then.

Construction on the full widening project is expected to be completed in 2028, according to the City of Johns Creek.