TS191: Johnson Ferry Road/Mt Vernon Highway Improvements
Project Status
May 2026 Update
Preparations are underway to open Mt. Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road under the final configuration of two-way operations.
The above video discusses the traffic pattern changes taking place under the final configuration. These changes include Mount Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road being two-way operations where they meet Roswell Road.
If you are traveling north on Roswell Road, away from I-285, you will not be able to turn right onto Johnson Ferry Road.
If traveling south on Roswell Road, you will not be able to turn left onto Mount Vernon Highway
If you are traveling on either road, and need to access homes or businesses on the other, head a half mile up the road to Spruill Lane for easy access.
Construction progress along Mt. Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road.
New Connector Road Opens December 2024
Spruill Lane serves as a connector road between Mt. Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road. The new road is signalized at its intersections with Johnson Ferry Road and Mt. Vernon Highway at Vernon Trace.
Spruill Lane includes a multi-use path and sidewalk. With the opening of Spruill Lane, the intersection west of the Sandy Springs Library was removed. As the area enters its final configuration, Mt. Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road will be completely separated, making the former intersection unnecessary.
New traffic pattern upon the opening of Spruill Lane.
New traffic pattern following the opening of Spruill Lane.
Construction Start Date
Construction began on February 26, 2024.
A major improvement project on Mt. Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road began on February 26, 2024. There will be intermittent lane closures and flagging operations throughout the duration of the project, which is anticipated to take approximately two years to complete.
Note: Always use caution when traveling through a construction zone.
Project Progress Information
Clearing and Grubbing
Clearing and grubbing for the Johnson Ferry/Mt. Vernon Improvements project began on February 27, 2024, and was completed in mid-April.
Due to the necessary tree removals, the City provided an overview of the trees being removed, their condition, and the replanting plan.
Following a field survey conducted by the City Arborist and project team, a total of 123 trees will be removed. The landscape plan calls for replanting 132 trees to replace those being removed. The City anticipates the final number of replanted trees may exceed the currently planned total.
It was determined that there are no landmark hardwood trees in front of the library along Mt. Vernon Highway that can be preserved. Due to roadway widening, storm drainage installation, and side-path construction, extensive grading and excavation are required in the area.
Upon further inspection, approximately one-third of the trees that might have been preserved were already dead, dying, or hazardous.
The City will continue working with the City Arborist throughout the clearing and grubbing process to identify any boundary trees that may potentially be preserved. At the conclusion of the project, hardwood shade trees, shrubs, and ground cover will be replanted to help mitigate project impacts.
Existing Traffic Signal at Mount Vernon Towers and Johnson Ferry Road
The signalized intersection in front of Mount Vernon Towers will be removed because both Mt. Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road will include eastbound and westbound travel lanes with a center two-way left-turn lane transitioning to dedicated left-turn lanes at intersections. The two roadways will be fully separated.
Traffic volumes at Mount Vernon Towers do not meet the criteria established in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) to warrant a traffic signal. Under the current condition, the Mount Vernon Towers intersection is signalized only because traffic volumes on the Johnson Ferry Road crossover leg meet signal warrant criteria.
Once the Johnson Ferry Road leg of the intersection is removed, the intersection will no longer warrant a signal.
The project also adds a new north-south connector road east of the library and west of Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church to move vehicles between Mt. Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road. Signals are anticipated at both ends of the proposed connector road.
For vehicles turning left from Mount Vernon Towers, there will be gaps in westbound traffic when the signal at the new connector road turns red, allowing opportunities for left turns. Drivers may also use the continuous center turn lane to cross the westbound lane and yield to eastbound traffic.
Project Purpose
The purpose of the proposed project is to improve vehicular and pedestrian mobility and reduce congestion by alleviating bottleneck conditions for east-west traffic on Johnson Ferry Road and Mt. Vernon Highway, as well as north-south traffic on Roswell Road.
Pedestrian mobility will improve with the addition of continuous sidewalks on both sides of Johnson Ferry Road and Mt. Vernon Highway. Restoring Johnson Ferry Road and Mt. Vernon Highway to two-way operations east of Roswell Road will eliminate the need for east-west traffic to use Roswell Road.
The project also improves study area intersections to provide sufficient capacity for existing and future traffic volumes.
The current roadway configuration results in multiple turning movements, side-street spillover, insufficient turning-lane capacity, and excessive congestion.
After input from the community and City Council, the compressed-grid alternative was approved as the preferred option. Both Mt. Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road will include eastbound and westbound travel lanes with a center two-way left-turn lane that transitions to dedicated left-turn lanes at intersections.
Due to safety and operational concerns, southbound left turns from Roswell Road onto Mt. Vernon Highway will not be permitted, and northbound right turns from Roswell Road onto Johnson Ferry Road will also be prohibited.
Ten-foot-wide multi-use paths are proposed on the inside shoulders of the roads, and 6-foot-wide sidewalks are proposed on the outside shoulders. This alternative also adds a new north-south connector road east of the library to move vehicles between Mt. Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road.
The improvements are included in the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (T-SPLOST) program approved by voters in Sandy Springs and Fulton County in November 2016.
The City of Sandy Springs held a Public Information Open House on August 30, 2018, to share concepts developed to improve the intersection of Johnson Ferry Road and Mt. Vernon Highway. The meeting provided the community with an opportunity to review concepts, ask questions, and provide input.
The proposed improvements are included in the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (T-SPLOST) program approved by voters in Sandy Springs and Fulton County in the November 2016 referendum.
March 8, 2018, Public Information Open House
The City of Sandy Springs hosted two Public Information Open House meetings on March 8, 2018, regarding concepts developed to improve the intersection of Johnson Ferry Road and Mt. Vernon Highway.
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