Gwinnett's HOT lanes one step closer to construction

UNDATED - Construction on Gwinnett County's new High Occupancy Toll Lanes along Interstate 85 is just around the corner.

Cherie Gibson with the State Road and Tollway Authority said they've successfully acquired the equipment and technology needed for construction to begin, but she said motorists won't see a whole lot of workers on the roads during this project.

"It's not a major, typical highway construction that people are accustomed to seeing (Georgia Department of Transportation) do," Gibson said. "It really heavily relies on the technology.

Gibson said the environmental certification of the project has also been completed.

She said construction on the lanes is expected to begin this summer and the completion date is set for summer 2011.

The new HOT lanes would enable eligible carpoolers and buses to use the lanes toll-free, however, vehicles with two or fewer occupants would have to pay to use them. Once completed, the lanes will stretch from Chamblee Tucker Road in DeKalb County to Old Peachtree Road in Gwinnett County.