DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson announces new I-20 westbound connector to I-285

Lorraine Cochran Johnson, DeKalb County CEO, announced a new dedicated westbound I-20 connecting lane at the I-285/I-20 East interchange that the county says will provide direct access to I-285 north and south and ease congestion.

Johnson said the new connector is intended to "provide a more direct route to both I285 north and south, helping reduce congestion, improve safety, and make travel through one of our region's busiest corridors more efficient." She described the project as part of a long-term effort to improve mobility across DeKalb County and reduce bottlenecks affecting residents, commuters and freight movement.

Johnson thanked the Georgia Department of Transportation and the crews who worked on the project, and she urged drivers to "continue to drive safely and pay attention to the new traffic patterns as these improvements are put into place." The announcement did not specify an exact opening date or the project’s funding sources.

County officials said the connector aims to improve travel efficiency and safety through a heavily used interstate corridor; further operational details, timing and funding breakdowns were not provided during the announcement.