Georgia State Route 400
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Georgia State Route 400 (always known locally as Georgia 400 or just 400, or by its nickname, the "Alpharetta Autobahn") is a highway in the U.S. state of Georgia, muliplexed with U.S. 19 from exit 4B until its terminus just south of Dahlonega. Georgia 400 goes from Atlanta, at I-85, to Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Forsyth County, Dawson County, and Dahlonega. Like the interstate highways, it is a limited access road (with exit ramps instead of intersections), but unlike the interstates (which were renumbered by the GDOT in 2000), the exit numbers do not indicate mileage: they still go up sequentially one-by-one. Once 400 passes exit 17 (S.R. 306), it changes from a limited access highway into an at-grade divided highway.
Between Interstate 85 and Interstate 285, Georgia 400 is designated "T. Harvey Mathis Parkway"; upon reaching the Perimeter and beyond, the highway is designated "Turner McDonald Parkway".
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History
Original Portion (I-285 to S.R. 306)
The section north of I-285 opened in various stages from 1971 to 1981 and was subsequently widened from its original four lane configuration to eight lanes between I-285 and Holcomb Bridge Road. The widening projects were necessitated by the massive growth that Georgia 400 brought to northern Fulton County and Forsyth County. However, even the widened road has failed to prevent traffic jams during the weekday rush hour.
Toll Portion (I-85 to I-285)
The southern section of Georgia 400 (from I-285 to I-85) was built last, and is currently the only toll road in Georgia. Opened to traffic on August 1, 1993, this section was fought bitterly by Buckhead residents, who eventually ended up having their homes and large parts of their neighborhoods destroyed for the construction. Many remaining residents now live on dead end streets with significant noise pollution. Existing exits were renumbered up by four to accommodate the extension, which has a single toll plaza in the middle of its length. Contrary to public belief, the bonds that funded the construction of Georgia 400 south of I-285 will not be paid off until 2011. There is also currently no way to go from 400 south to 85 north or vice versa, except by a confusing route via Sidney Marcus Boulevard. In addition, the North Line for Atlanta's MARTA system was constructed in the median from the Glenridge Connector to south of Lenox Road and was opened on June 8, 1996.
The GA 400 toll plaza collects tolls in both the northbound and southbound directions. Each direction has two open-road toll lanes, which collect tolls at highway speeds using the Georgia Cruise Card electronic tag, and seven gated toll lanes which accept either cash or Cruise Cards. The toll facility handles a total of approximately 120,000 vehicles per day. About 37% of transactions are paid via Cruise Card.
At one time, Georgia 400 was to connect to Interstate 675 in DeKalb County; however, residents in northern DeKalb County did not want the highway to cut through their neighborhoods and had the idea killed.
Major cities
Bolded cities are officially-designated control cities for signs.
- Atlanta
- Cumming
- Dahlonega
Interchanges
The following exits are listed south to north and are numbered sequentially.
| Exit # | Road(s) intersected | Destination(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| n/a | Northeast Expressway
(I-85 South/S.R. 403 South) | Downtown Atlanta | Willaim B. Hartsfield-Maynard Jackson-Atlanta International Airport
To Northwest Expressway (I-75/S.R. 401) - Macon, Marietta, Chattanooga (TN) |
| 1 | Sidney Marcus Boulevard | Buckhead, Chamblee, Greenville (SC) | Southbound only (No southbound return access)
To Northeast Expressway (I-85 North/S.R. 403 North) To Buford-Spring Connector (S.R. 13) To Piedmont Road (S.R. 237) To Lavista Road (S.R. 236) |
| 2 | Lenox Road
(S.R. 141 Connector) | Buckhead | Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza
To Peachtree Road (S.R. 141) |
| n/a | Toll Plaza | Buckhead | $0.50 for a 2 axle vehicle; $1.50 for 3 axles + an additional $0.50 for each axle over 3. |
| 4A | I-285 East
(S.R. 407 East) Glenridge Connector (S.R. 407 Loop) | Greenville (SC), Augusta, Sandy Springs | To Peacthree-Dunwoody Road
To Johnson Ferry Road To access Glenridge Connector from S.R. 400 southbound, take exit 3. |
| 4B | I-285 West
(S.R. 407 West/U.S. 19 South) | Marietta, Chattanooga (TN), Birmingham (AL) | |
| 5A | Abernathy Road East | Dunwoody | Norththbound only
To access Abernathy Road from S.R. 400 southbound, take exit 5 (Abernathy Road - Dunwoody, Sandy Springs). |
| 5B | Abernathy Road West | Sandy Springs | Norththbound only
To access Abernathy Road from S.R. 400 southbound, take exit 5 (Abernathy Road - Dunwoody, Sandy Springs). |
| 5C | North Springs Train Station | Sandy Springs | Southbound only (No southbound return access)
MARTA Parking |
| 6 | Northridge Road | Sandy Springs | University of Phoenix |
| 7A | Holcomb Bridge Road
(S.R. 140 East) | Norcross | Northbound only
To access Holcomb Bridge Road from S.R. 400 southbound, take exit 7 (Holcomb Bridge Road/S.R. 140 - Roswell, Norcross). |
| 7B | Holcomb Bridge Road
(S.R. 140 West) | Roswell | Northbound only
To access Holcomb Bridge Road from S.R. 400 southbound, take exit 7 (Holcomb Bridge Road/S.R. 140 - Roswell, Norcross). |
| 8 | Mansell Road | Alpharetta | North Point Mall
MARTA Park and Ride |
| 9 | Haynes Bridge Road | Alpharetta | North Point Mall |
| 10 | Old Milton Parkway
(S.R. 120) | Alpharetta | |
| 11 | Windward Parkway | Alpharetta | Golf Club of Georgia |
| 12A | McFarland Road West | Alpharetta | Forsyth County
Northbound only To access McFarland Road Road from S.R. 400 southbound, take exit 12. |
| 12B | McFarland Road East | Alpharetta | Forsyth County
Northbound only To access McFarland Road Road from S.R. 400 southbound, take exit 12. |
| 13 | Peachtree Parkway
(S.R. 141) | Cumming, Norcross | Forsyth County |
| 14 | Buford Highway
(S.R. 20) | Cumming, Sugar Hill, Buford | Lake Lanier Islands
Forsyth County |
| 15 | Bald Ridge Marina Road | Cumming | Bald Ridge Marina
Forsyth County |
| 16 | Pilgrim Mill Road | Cumming | Lake Sidney Lanier
Forsyth County |
| 17 | Keith Bridge Road
(S.R. 306) | Cumming, Gainesville | Forsyth County |
Dawson County
Lumpkin County