Kimball Bridge Road project eases traffic bottleneck in Alpharetta

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Drivers along Kimball Bridge Road are getting a smoother ride now that a key construction project in Alpharetta is complete, closing a gap that had caused daily bottlenecks near Georgia 400 for years.

The work, which widened a roughly 500-foot stretch of roadway and added lighting and other amenities, is the result of a partnership among the Georgia Department of Transportation, the city of Alpharetta and the True North 400 Community Improvement District.

“It’s a very beautiful aesthetic bridge,” said Kristin Winzeler, the Executive Director of True North 400, referring to the bridge over Georgia 400. “But with some of the issues with right of way and utilities, GDOT was not able to get all the way to where the improvements start for the city.”

That left a short but frustrating stretch of Kimball Bridge Road — connecting nearby homes and businesses — prone to gridlock. “It was about a 500-foot gap, which seems small, but it really created a bottleneck for the community,” Winzeler said.

True North 400 stepped in to fill that gap, coordinating with city and state leaders. “We were able to come in and build out that gap,” Winzeler said. “We widened the roadway, we added the lighting, added the amenities, and it’s now just one continuous improvement.”

The bridge replacement and roadwork came with a price tag. GDOT spent about $18 million to replace the bridge. The city of Alpharetta followed by widening Kimball Bridge Road at a cost of about $16 million. True North 400 funded the final phase with just over $1 million.

“Everyone was in favor of this project; however, everyone’s busy. Everyone has a lot of needs and priorities,” Winzeler said. “This project just wasn’t a priority. We were able to take it and make it ours.”

The improvements arrive as the massive 400 Express Lanes project gets underway. Local leaders say ensuring safe and efficient movement on surrounding roads is critical, whether for people on foot or behind the wheel.

“Not only is it safer for pedestrians, but also it now is two lanes instead of one,” Winzeler said. “Whether you’re walking or driving over Kimball Bridge, you have one smooth movement.”

GDOT plans to spend about $4.6 billion on the 400 Express Lanes, which will add roughly 16 miles of new lanes between North Springs Station and just past McFarland Parkway. The new express lanes will use flexible toll pricing that changes based on demand.