The stretch of GA 400 between McGinnis Ferry Road and McFarland Parkway is now an active construction zone, and heavier work is weeks away.
The Georgia Department of Transportation announced Thursday, July 23, that tree clearing will resume on six sections of State Route 400 in early August as the billion-dollar widening project shifts into a more disruptive phase. Crews are already installing fencing and erosion control between Exit 11B (McGinnis Ferry Road) and Exit 12 (McFarland Parkway) in preparation for tree clearing, grubbing (stump and root removal), and grading.
GDOT's July newsletter said construction activity near the McFarland Parkway interchange will increase in "late July." Crews will begin preparing three of the four grassy areas enclosed by ramp loops at that interchange for staging, creating support zones for the northern portion of the 16-mile project.
Exit 5 closure coming
Farther south, GDOT announced that the southbound Exit 5 ramp will close "later this summer." That exit serves the North Springs MARTA station, Abernathy Road, and Hammond Drive. When it closes, two temporary exits will open simultaneously: Exit 5B, a transit-only ramp for North Springs MARTA about half a mile south of the current exit, and Exit 5A, serving Abernathy Road and Hammond Drive about a mile south.
GDOT has not set a specific closure date. The agency told commuters in its July newsletter to expect more details in the coming weeks.
Medley opening collides with construction
The McGinnis Ferry Road segment sits at the doorstep of Medley, the $560 million mixed-use development at Johns Creek Parkway and McGinnis Ferry Road. Medley's first phase, which includes 125,000 square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment space plus a 175-room boutique hotel, is scheduled to open Thursday, October 29, with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. The grand opening will overlap with active highway construction on the adjacent corridor and the start of the school year.
SR 400 carries more than 250,000 vehicles per day, a figure GDOT cited in its July 2026 newsletter. Until now, most lane closures and construction work have occurred between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Heading into August, GDOT is warning motorists to expect daytime delays, exercise caution, and reduce speed through work zones.
Shoulder reductions and restriping ahead
Through early August, crews will reduce shoulders in certain areas as they continue preparatory work and begin restriping for upcoming traffic shifts and changing roadway conditions.
GDOT and its contractor, Peach State Partners, divided the corridor into three segments. Segment C, which includes the Johns Creek-area exits, runs north to Shiloh Road in southern Forsyth County. The Fulton County Board of Commissioners approved a public-private partnership agreement with GDOT on July 15, for sewer facility relocations tied to the express lanes project.
Residents can monitor construction updates through GDOT's SR 400 Express Lanes newsletter or at sr400peachpartners.com.
