The changes now in place on Georgia 400 southbound will require drivers to have some patience and to take their time Monday morning.

The right shoulder on Ga. 400 southbound will now be a travel lane between Holcomb Bridge Road and the North Springs MARTA station, according to Keith Golden, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The change will be in place from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. every weekday.

It works like this; drivers entering Ga. 400 southbound at Holcomb Bridge will be able to use the right shoulder as a traffic lane until they get to Northridge Road. Then they will have to merge back onto the main highway.

"We have about 3000 cars an hour coming on at (Holcomb Bridge Road)," Golden says.  "It's one of the heaviest volume inputs onto the system."

Drivers entering the southbound lanes at Northridge will also be able to use the right shoulder as a traffic lane until they reach the MARTA station.

"By extending the shoulder, what you do is give the motorist enough time to do additional weaving," says Chief GDOT Engineer Gerald Ross.  "Even though they're merging over, you're giving them a longer time to make a decision as far as getting in or out of traffic."

The extra lane is five miles long and may be used at other locations in metro Atlanta if it works.  GDOT is looking at using the shoulder for traffic on the northbound side of Georgia 400 during afternoon rush hour. GDOT could extend the use of the shoulder on the southbound side as far north as MacFarland Road.

But will it actually help the commute?

"I'm not sure how this will affect the overall trip times between Cumming and I-285," said News/Talk WSB's Capt. Herb Emory. "Motorists exiting at North Springs and Northridge will probably be the ones that see the advantage."

There are concerns among local police about getting emergency vehicles to the scene of a crash, but engineers hope they have a solution in place.

Emergency vehicles will use the two left lanes of the highway as long as drivers cooperate.

GDOT is asking drivers in the far left lane to move over to the left shoulder if an emergency vehicle in trying to get through.  In addition, drivers in the second to left lane are being asked to move a few feet to their right.

This will create what GDOT calls the "zipper" effect, with cars in those two left lanes splitting like a zipper.

The left shoulder offers drivers about six feet of room to move.  If drivers in the second to left lane move a few feet to their right, then emergency vehicles should have enough space to get through.

"It's really quite simple," says Sandy Springs Police Officer Forrest Bohannon.  "If you see an emergency vehicle in your right side view mirror, move to your left.  If it's in your left mirror, then move to your right."

GDOT says the plan will remain in place until at least the fall.  Then they will evaluate its success and determine if it should continue.