I-285 Again The Focus Of Planned Weekend Construction

From the Georgia Department of Transportation

Georgia Department of Transportation crews and contractors will continue their drive toward the conclusion of the 2014 construction season this weekend with a familiar refrain to motorists – avoid travel on Interstate 285 if possible. Weather permitting – and there is a reasonable chance of rain throughout the weekend – crews will continue work on several major projects:

· Concrete slab replacement on westside I-285 will require a continuous 9 p.m., Friday, to 5 a.m., Monday, closure of two southbound (Outer Loop) lanes between South Cobb Drive and Bolton Road;

· On Top End I-285, two Inner Loop lanes and one Outer Loop lane between Roswell Road and Peachtree Dunwoody Road will be closed throughout the weekend for sign structure installation;

· On eastside I-285, sign work between Glenwood Road and Covington Highway will necessitate two continuous northbound lane closures all weekend; and

· On the Bottom End, bridge overlay work will require various lane closures at the I-285 interchange with Interstate 85 throughout the weekend.

Lengthy delays are likely and Georgia DOT advises those who must travel I-285 to call 511 or consult 511ga.org before departing to learn current work status and traffic conditions.

Additional construction efforts will continue as well:

· Workers in Rockdale and Newton counties will close two Interstate 20 westbound lanes between Almon and Salem roads all weekend as well as the westbound exit and entrance ramp at Salem; and

· On Georgia 400 at its interchange with Northridge Road, east and west bound Northridge traffic will be shifted on to a new portion of the replacement overpass above Georgia 400. The shift is scheduled to occur Fridaynight after 9 p.m. This portion of the new bridge will carry all traffic for approximately 10 months while an additional part of the structure is built. Motorists exiting Georgia 400 should be aware of new ramp configurations on to Northridge. In addition, there will be no sidewalk across the bridge during this last phase of construction, although the final bridge will feature a sidewalk.

Other Georgia DOT work and routine maintenance will necessitate various lane closures this weekend (as detailed in the attached spreadsheets); 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, undistracted and unimpaired.

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