Alpharetta, Georgia – Drivers and residents in Alpharetta have grown used to seeing orange cones and construction crews along SR 9, but the end is not quite in sight yet. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is pressing forward with the long-running SR 9/Main Street Widening Project—a project that stretches from Upper Hembree Road to Windward Parkway and has become a fixture of daily life for many in the area.
The work began back in April 2021, and, at first, the finish line was set for spring of 2024. That target has shifted—now, GDOT is aiming to complete the overhaul by spring of 2026. The extension is tied to a series of utility delays and some adjustments to the project’s design, especially as new developments have popped up along the corridor and prompted changes in the original plans.
For local businesses and commuters, these shifting timelines mean continued detours and a bit more patience. In the next twelve months, a lot of the behind-the-scenes work will come into focus. By July 2025, AT\&T is scheduled to wrap up its utility relocation work along the route, which will allow for other construction tasks to move ahead. Not long after, Georgia Power is expected to finish removing its remaining utility poles by the middle of August 2025.
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The next milestones will become visible to drivers and pedestrians alike. Street and pedestrian lights are set to be installed and activated on the southern section of the project by mid-October 2025, brightening the area as construction pushes forward. Median landscaping—one of the final touches for the look and feel of the expanded road—should be wrapped up by March 2026.
By April 2026, all major roadway paving as well as the sidewalks should be finished. Residents will also see lights turned on at the north end of the project by May of that year, and, by August 2026, final paving work on the various side roads is scheduled for completion.
When the dust finally settles, Alpharetta’s Main Street will look and feel different. The expanded SR 9 is expected to ease traffic congestion, make walking safer for pedestrians, and provide the infrastructure needed for a city that keeps on growing. Until then, the construction zone will remain part of daily routines. GDOT is encouraging everyone to drive carefully in the area, watch for changing conditions, and stay up to date with traffic information by visiting 511ga.org or using the Georgia 511 mobile app.
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Patience may be running thin for some, but the hope is that the wait will be well worth it when the project is complete.
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