Brace yourself. State transportation leaders are all-in for HOT lanes.

Now they are pushing plans to extend the optional toll lane on I-85 north of Old Peachtree Road, along with other projects already in place.

But not everyone on the DOT board thinks this is wise.

The new HOT lane on I-85 would extend past the Mall of Georgia to either Hamilton Mill Road or to Chateau Elan.

This toll lane would have to be constructed, so drivers in the free lanes would not lose space. If it’s approved, construction would start in 2017.

This announcement came Wednesday at a DOT board meeting. Officials also shored up with plans for a new HOT lane on I-75 in Henry County.

Meanwhile the HOT lane project for I-75 and I-575 in Cobb and Cherokee Counties is in procurement. Total price tag: $1 billion.

A DOT committee said Wednesday that this project is the best thing for the state. They say the DOCT would spend up to $536 million on the project and borrow the rest. The full DOT board will vote on the resolution Thursday.

But it doesn’t look like that vote will be unanimous.

An argument erupted during Wednesday’s meeting as board member Dana Lemon says she is ”really concerned” using at least $300 million in state gas tax money on the project.

DOT Planning Director Toby Carr admits the project is expensive, but had been approved by the board as a state priority.

Lemon is also worried that little, if any, extra toll revenues won’t go toward mass transit, according to DOT’s preliminary analysis.

DOT hopes to get bids in June 2013.