I-85 Atlanta Bridge Collapse: Monday Marks 3 Year Anniversary

ATLANTA — The massive fire that destroyed a large section of I-85 happened three years ago today. The incident took place during the early evening hours of Thursday, March 31, near the intersection of Georgia 400. The I-85 Atlanta fire shut down a portion of the interstate and affected traffic for weeks.

Atlanta Fire Rescue crews responded to the fire burning underneath the bridge along Piedmont Road. While crews worked to put out the fire, the bridge collapsed.

No injuries were reported, traffic was bad enough that drivers left their vehicles.

A Fulton County grand jury indicted a then 39-year-old man accused of setting the fire. The grand jury indicted Basil Eleby on one count each of arson in the first degree and criminal damage to property in the first degree, according to the Fulton County District Attorney's Office.

Eleby later graduated from a transition program and was able to avoid charges, reports WGCL.

Crews took six weeks to rebuild. The highway fully reopened on May 12 of that year.