Much anticipated 400/I-85 interchange opens today (Atlanta, Sandy Springs: to live in, centers, residential)

[Soundmanred]

Finally. Although living in Buckhead for about 5 years now, traffic is really only bad around rush hour. Mid day and night are fine. The 400/285 Intetchange will be amazing. Too bad I will be moving up north again and won't be able to see it.

[cwkimbro]

Awesome to hear about the completion!

Now here is what I'm curious about for the future.

Most people immediately think about how this will help I-85 commuters get to Buckhead. No doubt early traffic patterns will play out this way.

Here is what I'm curious about for the coming years. Will this make developing office space in Dekalb's Century Center and other nearby areas more lucrative.

It will now be opened up to much easier access from commuters coming from GA 400 and skip some of the traffic from the merge of I-85 south

[BELMO45]

Originally Posted by gtjared

If you're coming from Midtown and don't want to get on 85 all the way down south at Linden then you take the Buford Connector from the Northern end of Midtown and then Sydney Marcus to 400 North. It makes perfect sense to do this from Midtown if you're going up 400 North. The on ramps at 10th, 14th, and 16th headed north only allow you to get onto 75 North, not 85 North.

That possibility did cross my mind but the time of day I see this occurring is generally more 7-9am than it is 4-6pm...are there really that many people who work up on the north side of the perimeter who live in Midtown? It would seem to me to be more the opposite. I guess thats the next project to be done...in reality they don't even need to create the on ramp to 85 from 10th, 14th or 16th, they could create some sort of left exit off the Buford Connector where it winds around that hilly area and briefly parallels 85 by the Amtrack station. This all sums up how badly designed the roads are here, the fact you need to merge left to go right and right to go left at the Brookwood Split sums up how pathetic Atlanta roads are...the amount of accidents in the 1 mile prior to the Split are actually markedly lower than you'd expect given the reverse merge off.

[gtjared]

Originally Posted by BELMO45

That possibility did cross my mind but the time of day I see this occurring is generally more 7-9am than it is 4-6pm...are there really that many people who work up on the north side of the perimeter who live in Midtown?

You'd be surprised actually. A good chunk of my friends live in Midtown, a few of us Tech grads, and commute out to Dunwoody or Alpharetta. I think it's a good proportion younger people that want to live in the city, but got a job out up 400. Another of my friends lives in Sandy Springs and works in Alpharetta, but is moving into Midtown and will also be making that commute. Atlanta doesn't really follow traditional traffic patterns. It's all over the place.

[vince217]

if i take 400s to i85n, where does it merge on i85n? just before N druid hills rd?

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by vince217

if i take 400s to i85n, where does it merge on i85n? just before N druid hills rd?

Correct.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by vince217

if i take 400s to i85n, where does it merge on i85n? just before N druid hills rd?

Yeah, about where the Buford highway connector merges in.

[atl1221]

have tried both ramps....the view of the skyline on the 400s to 85n might be one of the best in the city... very impressive bridge.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by atl1221

have tried both ramps....the view of the skyline on the 400s to 85n might be one of the best in the city... very impressive bridge.

Good to know it can be seen when driving.

When I saw the pictures from the AJC I was amazed and I just thought.... Man I wish it wouldn't be unsafe for them to build a small pull-off overlook.

[Tarzanman]

Originally Posted by atl1221

have tried both ramps....the view of the skyline on the 400s to 85n might be one of the best in the city... very impressive bridge.

I haven't tried the new ramp yet, but there is another off-ramp due south of there that does offer a nice view of the city (not going to name it because I don't want people pulling off of it during traffic).

The Fifth street bridge should be able to handle your needs for south-facing downtown vistas, though.... and it has a generous sidewalk