GA 400 Express Lanes Construction Reaches Forsyth County: What Residents Should Know

Construction on the Georgia Department of Transportation's (GDOT) SR 400 Express Lanes project has officially reached Forsyth County. According to GDOT's July 2026 project newsletter, crews are preparing a section of southern Forsyth County, from McGinnis Ferry Road to McFarland Parkway, for tree clearing, grubbing, and grading, with construction activity expected to increase near the McFarland Parkway interchange starting in late July 2026. Tree clearing is scheduled to resume corridor-wide in early August. For homeowners, buyers, and commuters in the Cumming and South Forsyth area, this marks the start of a construction phase that will be part of daily life along GA 400 for the next several years.

What Was Announced

GDOT's July 2026 newsletter for the SR 400 Express Lanes project confirmed that tree clearing will resume on six sections of the highway corridor in early August 2026, as the multi-year widening project enters a new construction phase. The update also addressed changes near the North Springs MARTA station in Sandy Springs, where the existing southbound Exit 5 is set to close later this summer and be temporarily replaced by two new interim exits.

The SR 400 Express Lanes project is a 16-mile widening effort that GDOT has described as the largest transportation infrastructure investment in Georgia's history, with a project cost identified at $4.6 billion. The project is being delivered through a public-private partnership with a developer group known as Peach State Partners, which will operate the new toll lanes for a set number of years once they open.

Where the Construction Is Happening in Forsyth County

GDOT has divided the 16-mile corridor into three segments, A, B, and C. Segment A covers Sandy Springs down to the Chattahoochee River. Segment B runs from Roberts Drive through Roswell to Kimball Bridge Road in Alpharetta.

Segment C is the Forsyth County portion, extending north to Shiloh Road in southern Forsyth County. As of the July 2026 update, only one section within Segment C is designated for active construction: the stretch from McGinnis Ferry Road (Exit 11B) to McFarland Parkway (Exit 12). This section sits in the southern part of the county, an area that includes South Forsyth neighborhoods near the Fulton and Gwinnett county lines.

Current Construction Status

In this Forsyth County section, crews are currently installing fencing and erosion-control measures to prepare for the tree clearing, grubbing, and grading work that will follow. Beginning in late July, GDOT says construction activity will increase specifically near the McFarland Parkway interchange, where crews will begin preparing three of the four ramp infield areas. According to GDOT, these support areas are meant to improve construction efficiency and reduce the need to haul materials across the broader corridor, helping supply the northern portion of the project.

Corridor-wide, most construction and lane-closure activity to date has taken place overnight, generally between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., to limit disruption during peak commuting hours. GDOT has noted that SR 400's daily traffic volume exceeds 250,000 vehicles along the corridor, underscoring why the agency has prioritized overnight work where possible.

Important Dates and Next Steps

• Early August 2026: Tree clearing resumes on six sections along the full 16-mile corridor.
• Late July 2026: Construction activity increases near the McFarland Parkway interchange in Forsyth County as ramp infield prep begins.
• "Later this summer": The existing southbound Exit 5 near North Springs MARTA station (Sandy Springs, outside Forsyth County) is scheduled to close, with two temporary exits opening in its place.
• 2031: Previously reported target date for the new express toll lanes to open, based on GDOT's original project timeline.

GDOT has indicated that the exact timing of the corridor's first major lane closures and detours had not yet been announced as of late July 2026, and it has encouraged residents to watch for further updates in the coming weeks.

Transportation Impact for South Forsyth Residents

The McGinnis Ferry Road to McFarland Parkway section is a well-traveled stretch for residents commuting between South Forsyth, North Fulton, and Gwinnett County job centers. As construction activity increases near the McFarland Parkway interchange, drivers in this part of Forsyth County should expect a longer stretch of visible construction work, similar to what's already been underway farther south in Sandy Springs, Roswell, and Alpharetta.

Motorists heading into the new school year this August are advised by GDOT to expect delays, use caution, and reduce speed through active work zones, particularly during any daytime preparatory work near ramp areas.

Potential Real Estate Relevance

No verified property-value impact from the SR 400 widening project in Forsyth County has been reported at this stage. That said, major infrastructure investments of this scale often become a factor buyers and sellers weigh over the life of a construction project, particularly for homes and communities close to the McGinnis Ferry Road and McFarland Parkway corridor.

What Buyers Should Consider

• Properties near the McFarland Parkway and McGinnis Ferry Road interchanges may experience visible construction activity and periodic traffic pattern changes over the next several years.
• Buyers prioritizing commute times to North Fulton or Gwinnett County job centers may want to factor in this construction phase when evaluating homes along this corridor.
• The project's eventual express lanes, targeted for 2031 based on GDOT's prior timeline, could influence long-term commute planning for the area, though this may influence conditions differently once construction reaches later phases.

What Sellers and Homeowners Should Consider

• Homeowners near the active Forsyth County construction section may want to stay current on GDOT's project updates, since construction intensity and lane configurations are expected to change over the coming months.
• Sellers marketing homes in this corridor may want to be prepared to answer buyer questions about the SR 400 project timeline and current construction status.
• Homeowners can sign up directly for GDOT's SR 400 Express Lanes project newsletter to track updates specific to the McFarland Parkway and McGinnis Ferry Road section.

What Investors Should Monitor

• The pace of construction progress within Forsyth County's Segment C, particularly around the McFarland Parkway interchange.
• Any future GDOT announcements regarding lane closures, detours, or a revised timeline for the broader corridor.
• How commercial and residential activity in South Forsyth responds as construction becomes more visible in the area, since no confirmed development or investment impact has been reported as a direct result of the SR 400 project at this time.

FAQ Section

Is GA 400 construction happening in Forsyth County right now? Yes. As of the July 2026 GDOT update, one section of Forsyth County, from McGinnis Ferry Road (Exit 11B) to McFarland Parkway (Exit 12), is designated for active construction, with crews currently installing fencing and erosion-control measures ahead of tree clearing.

When will tree clearing resume on SR 400? GDOT announced that tree clearing will resume on six sections along the 16-mile corridor in early August 2026, with activity near the McFarland Parkway interchange in Forsyth County increasing starting in late July.

Will GA 400 construction affect my commute in South Forsyth? Most construction work to date has occurred overnight between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. to limit peak-hour disruption, but GDOT advises drivers near active work zones, including the McFarland Parkway area, to expect delays and reduce speed as activity increases.

When are the new SR 400 express lanes expected to open? Based on GDOT's previously reported project timeline, the new toll express lanes are targeted to open in 2031, though the agency has not announced a revised date specific to the Forsyth County section as of this update.

Does the SR 400 construction affect home values in Forsyth County? No verified property-value impact has been reported at this stage. Buyers, sellers, and homeowners near the corridor may still want to monitor the project's progress as it becomes more visible in South Forsyth.

Where can I get official updates on the SR 400 Express Lanes project? GDOT publishes regular project updates and offers a newsletter sign-up specifically for the SR 400 Express Lanes project, which covers construction status across all three segments of the corridor, including the Forsyth County portion.

Conclusion

Construction on the SR 400 Express Lanes project has moved north into Forsyth County, with active work now underway between McGinnis Ferry Road and McFarland Parkway. While most disruption so far has been limited to overnight hours, GDOT's plans to increase activity near the McFarland Parkway interchange this summer mean South Forsyth residents will likely see more visible construction in the months ahead. No confirmed impact on local property values has been reported, but the project is one more factor for buyers, sellers, and homeowners in this corridor to keep on their radar as the work progresses toward its 2031 target completion.

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