DOT Urges Motorists to Avoid I-285 This Weekend

From the Georgia Department of Transportation

The Georgia Department of Transportation is urging weekend motorists to avoid travel on Interstate Highway 285 if at all possible. Several projects at multiple locations are likely to result in considerable congestion and possible lengthy delays.

With a favorable weather forecast throughout the weekend, Department crews and contractors expect to make significant progress on several I-285 construction and repair projects. Among them:

-Concrete slab replacement on westside I-285 and a separate project constructing a new interchange with South Atlanta Road will require a 9 p.m., Friday, to 5 a.m., Monday, continuous closure of two northbound outside (right) lanes between South Atlanta and Paces Ferry roads;

-Two southbound I-285 outside lanes between Washington Road and Old National Highway will be closed from 9 p.m., Friday, until 5 p.m., Saturday, for bridge joint repairs;

-Work on I-285 Top End sign structures will close two inside (left) northbound lanes and one inside southbound lane between Interstate 75 and Northside Drive continuously (9 p.m., Friday, until 5 a.m., Monday); and

-On eastside I-285, three southbound left lanes in the vicinity of Flat Shoals Road will be closed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, for paving repairs.

Georgia DOT advises travelers to simply avoid all of I-285 if possible and, if not, to call 511 or consult 511ga.org before departing to learn current work status and traffic conditions.

Other Department efforts will continue as well.

Workers in Newton County will close two outside (right) I-20 eastbound lanes in the vicinity of the U.S. Highway 278 Interchange continuously from 9 p.m., Friday, until 5 a.m., Monday, for resurfacing. The eastbound exit and entrance ramps at U.S. 278 also will be closed all weekend.

On Interstate 75 in Fulton County, two northbound inside (left) lanes between Howell Mill and Moore’s Mill roads will be closed continuously from 9 p.m., Friday, until 5 a.m., Monday, for drainage work and sign installation with one inside southbound lane in the same corridor also closed for the sign project.

Other Georgia DOT work and routine maintenance will necessitate various lane closures this weekend (as detailed in the attached spreadsheet); the Department also cautions that incident and emergency repair related closures may be necessary on any route at any time.

And as always, the Department encourages motorists to drive cautiously, courteously and unimpaired; downtown Atlanta traffic likely will be heavy this weekend with a full slate of Atlanta Braves games and an Atlanta Falcons preseason tilt Friday night.

As previously noted, all work is contingent upon favorable weather.