Gwinnett County commissioners this week approved a contract for design services and construction of a new interchange along I-85 at McGinnis Ferry Road in the Suwanee area.
The $3.17 million contract — funded by SPLOST monies — was awarded to Atkins North America, Inc., which will be installing a "full diamond interchange," according to county documents.
It does not appear the intersection will be a "diverging diamond," like the ones currently in place at I-85's interchanges with Pleasant Hill Road and Jimmy Carter Boulevard.
"[It] will provide relief to the heavily congested Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road interchange," said Alan Chapman, Gwinnett County transportation director, at the commission's work session Tuesday.
In a memo to commissioners, Chapman said that the north-facing ramps of the interchange would be bridged over the south-facing ramps of the Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road exit to connect with I-85, due to McGinnis Ferry Road's close proximity to the existing exit.
"It's been worked on a long, long time. It's good to get it to this point," said Commission Chair Charlotte Nash at the work session.
Commissioners approved the item Tuesday evening.
