Montgomery County engages AECOM for feasibility study on new I‑85 interchange

Montgomery County's engineering office will contract with AECOM Technical Services Inc. to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed I‑85 interchange at Where's Fair Road, County Engineer George Speak told commissioners.

Speak said the commission previously approved work on the project in December 2024 and that the new study updates a study conducted about 12 years ago. He estimated the consultant will take about six months to complete the analysis and produce cost and design information. Commissioners noted the project could be large; Speak said the consultant's price came in roughly half of what was anticipated.

Commissioners and staff discussed traffic growth near the Montgomery Industrial Park and the need to avoid delays in completing the study. Speak said federal funding will likely be part of any subsequent construction phase but that the study is intended to identify impacts, necessary right‑of‑way, and likely price tags to inform future decisions.

The transcript does not record a final decision to fund construction; the item before the commission was the consultant agreement to complete the feasibility study.