GA400 Shoulder Lanes

In an effort to improve mobility on one of the most crowded segments of GA 400, Georgia DOT now allows southbound motorists to drive on the outside (far right) shoulder lane during morning commute hours at two locations:

• Between Holcomb Bridge Road and Northridge Road Exits
• Between Northridge and the North Springs MARTA Station Exits

What Should Motorists Expect?

Drivers entering GA 400 SB from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m., weekdays, will have two dedicated entrance ramp lanes from Holcomb Bridge. At Northridge, there will be one entrance ramp lane from which drivers will merge as usual into the right thru lane and then move to utilize the right shoulder lane if they choose.

This access to the shoulder lanes will be restricted to southbound traffic only in two areas:

• Between the Holcomb Bridge Road entrance ramp to GA 400 and the Northridge Road exit ramp. 
• Between the Northridge entrance ramp to GA 400 and the North Springs MARTA Station exit ramp.

Hours of Operation

View GA 400 Traffic Signs

Motorists may use the lanes only between the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Mondays through Fridays.

During these hours and in these segments only, southbound motorists will be allowed to drive in the outside (right) shoulder lane. Drivers will be guided through the new configuration throughout the corridor by signage and pavement markings.

Information for Commuters

• View Shoulder Lane Map
• Shoulder Lane Access & Usage

  Beginning at 5 a.m. each workday, Georgia DOT HERO and maintenance forces will make certain the shoulder lane is free of stalled vehicles and debris prior to each operation period. Stalled and abandoned vehicles will be pushed off the roadway to the nearest flat area. Drivers should use extreme caution when using the shoulder lane.

  • Transit buses will continue to have access to the shoulder lane during these times.
  • Trucks with more than six wheels are not allowed in the shoulder lane.
  • The shoulder lane is constructed to the pavement depth of general travel lanes. While wide enough to accommodate normal-sized vehicles throughout, there are isolated sections where lane width narrows slightly.
  • Nine (9) paved Emergency Pull-off locations along the right side of the roadway will be available for motorists who experience vehicle issues or other emergencies.
• Rules

  Driving in the shoulder lane is not permitted:

  • At any time other than these designated hours.
  • No driving on the shoulder is allowable north of Holcomb Bridge or south of the North Springs MARTA Station.

  NOTE: Unauthorized driving on a shoulder is a misdemeanor punishable by as much as 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
• In Case of an Emergency

  Motorists who will use the GA 400 corridor shoulder lanes should pay attention to these special instructions provided by North Fulton area police and first responders. These emergency response instructions vary from the way most motorists are accustomed.

  • Emergency vehicles likely will use the second from the left lane for movement through traffic.
  • Motorists in the inside (left) lane should yield by moving carefully to their left into the center median shoulder while drivers in the second to left lane should yield by moving carefully to their right towards the third lane to create a gap for the emergency vehicles.
  • Before returning to their normal lane configurations, drivers should momentarily hold their position; check their mirrors; and yield to any additional emergency vehicles that may be approaching, including tow trucks.
• Recommendation to Motorists

  Be Patient! It will take time to become acclimated to driving in the shoulder lane.

  Reduce Speed! Drivers should not exceed the posted 45-mph shoulder lane advisory speed limit.

  Pay Attention! Signage will guide motorists through this new access.

  Remember: Steer It and Clear It! Georgia law requires motorists in accidents in which there are no serious injuries and the vehicles remain operable to move them out of the roadway if at all possible.

  Avoid creating bottlenecks! Prior to Northridge Road and the North Springs MARTA Station, thru-drivers in the shoulder lane should merge to their left well in advance of these exit ramps. As signage in these areas will indicate, when the shoulder lane is in use, it will become the exit lane to Northridge Road and the North Springs MARTA Station.

Georgia DOT is Working to Improve Your Commute

Several states utilize shoulder lanes to address traffic congestion, and Georgia DOT is adding this approach as “one tool in the toolkit” of its comprehensive strategies to use existing assets to improve mobility in the metro Atlanta region. During the coming months, the Department will determine if traffic flow is sufficiently improved to continue and perhaps expand their use in Georgia.

Pending that review, Georgia DOT may implement shoulder lane access on northbound GA 400 between the North Springs MARTA Station entrance/Northridge Road exit and Northridge Road entrance/Holcomb Bridge Road exit ramps during evening commute hours.