Kennedy Interchange

Built to serve one of the largest job centers in the Southeast

In the 1980s, commercial property owners were concerned about the growing traffic congestion and access issues around the Cumberland area. The Cumberland Mall area was at the forefront of these concerns as Cobb Parkway lacked easy access to I-75.

The solution was the Kennedy Interchange which entailed many elements. The interchange was one of the first projects outlined in planning documents for the Cumberland CID. The Cumberland CID broke ground on the project in 1996.

Greater Access to Cumberland

The Kennedy Interchange was one of the first projects initiated by the Cumberland CID. The project took nearly 15 years to complete and the total cost was $81 million. Thanks to the efforts of everyone involved, the Kennedy Interchange changed the accessibility of Cumberland. Due to the impact of the project, businesses and companies relocated to the area which caused a boom of economic growth that shaped that future of Cumberland.

About the Kennedy Interchange

The Kennedy Interchange is known as the Cumberland Boulevard Interchange over I-75.

Because the Interchange is close to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA), designers had to satisfy federal authorities that steps would be taken to protect the environmentally sensitive area. With Cumberland Boulevard being directly adjacent to the CRNRA, the interchange required state-of-the-art engineering. The bridge portion of the Interchange was called a slant-leg arch bridge over Rottenwood Creek, the first such bridge built in Georgia. The bridge uses steel arches to span the creek instead of a series of columns, to avoid disturbing the creekbed.

In addition to the Interchange, the carpool lanes on I-75 were extended north from the Chattahoochee River to a new special designated interchange at Akers Mill Road.

A fifth southbound lane also was added to I-75 from the Chattahoochee River bridge to Mount Paran Road. The project also included additional surface roads to disperse traffic once it leaves I-75. The Akers Mill Bridge was reconstructed to fit the new HOV lanes.

Did you know?

The Kennedy Interchange was named after Alfred and Thornton Kennedy. They donated more than $25 million worth of land to the Cumberland CID for the project. The Kennedys also were instrumental in establishing the Chattahoochee National Park, which is under I-75 and near the interchange.

Timeline

1988

One of the original projects outlined in planning documents for the Cumberland CID.

1996

Cumberland CID breaks ground on the Kennedy Interchange.

1998

Portions of the Kennedy Interchange open with the HOV access ramps at Akers Mill Bridge.

1999

Kennedy Interchange is complete.