I-85 Collapse: Bridge Demolition Continues, Commute Options Remain Largely Unchanged

ATLANTA, GA -- It's been days since thousands of motorists have had to figure out how they will navigate around the collapsed bridge along Interstate 85 in Midtown Atlanta.

If you're still befuddled on how you will make your alternative route a permanent option, the Georgia Department of Transportation has shared some useful, updated information.

The state said all I-85 northbound traffic is now being diverted to S.R. 13/Buford Spring Connector. This traffic will be able to take the connector to the point where it connects back to I-85 northbound.

"This is mainly for local traffic only," GDOT said on its 511 Georgia Facebook page. "Long distance travelers should still continue to use I-285 around the city."

For those traveling southbound, your travels will still be cut off at the S.R. 400 northbound ramp. You cannot use the Buford Spring Connector southbound from I-85, the agency added. However, it expects to open a single lane for traffic by Thursday morning.

A small sign of relief from the state: the HOV ramp from Lindbergh Drive to I-85 northbound is open to all traffic. Police are not enforcing occupancy requirements for the ramp. Please note that once you merge onto I-85 northbound, any non-HOV vehicles should move into regular lanes of travel.

GDOT has also provided an updated detour map for you to peruse before you head out the door (not behind the wheel of your vehicle, of course):

Three people were arrested late Friday evening in connection to the fire and subsequent collapse of the bridge. The Georgia Fire Marshal's Office charged Basil Eleby with arson and first degree criminal damage to property. Sophia Bruner and Barry Thomas have each been charged with criminal trespassing.

According to The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Eleby appeared in court Saturday morning, and Fulton County Magistrate Court Judge James Altman set bail at $200,000.

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Allen said the three suspects appear to be homeless or transient, and possibly kept shelter in various outdoor camps under area bridges and near the wood line.

The newspaper also reports Eleby was allegedly smoking crack cocaine moments before he's accused of starting the fire.

In a city known for its rough commutes and traffic snarls, news that roughly 700 feet of I-85 will need to be reconstructed after Thursday's fire took out a segment of a bridge is a gut-punch.

The rebuilding project will take several months and create a bottleneck for the estimated 400,000 vehicles that use the interstate daily, officials said.

The Georgia DOT said it will follow an "aggressive schedule" to replace this portion of the interstate.

A determination was made by state inspectors that the "southbound sections of I-85 received damage from the fire requiring the replacement of those sections, as well as the collapsed section on the northbound bridge and possibly other adjacent sections," Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry said Friday.

"Georgia DOT is committed to assisting these experts in any manner and with all available information needed to reach a final determination on the cause of this incident, and is encouraged by recent developments toward the completion of the investigation," the agency added. "The department has been advised that necessary work to repair and reconstruct the roadway may proceed in an effort to open the highway for motorists as quickly as is feasible."

Demolition began Friday and is expected to continue through early this week. This dismantling that must be carefully done to "minimize damage to the existing stable roadway" and not disrupt the bridge columns on the existing structure, the state said.

Once demolition is done, crews will begin outlining a scope of work needed, which will allow for a more accurate timeline of repairs to be released. Crews have already started design work of the sections that are damaged, and they continue to update those designs as information comes into the agency.

The state also says a high-voltage power line and gas line have been identified in the area, requiring workers to take additional precaution during the demolition and subsequent construction phase of the project. The Georgia DOT bridge designers are currently working on finalizing the beam designs for the new sections of the road, and will begin the construction phase soon after the demolition work is completed.

Motorists should be prepared for new traffic patterns as they drive the corridor, and are encouraged to continue to seek alternate routes, ride MARTA or GRTA, contact Georgia Commute Options and to utilize their preferred wayfinding app.

Georgia DOT will get a boost from the federal agency tasked with its oversight. The U.S. DOT said Friday it will award $10 million in emergency relief funds to jump-start repairs.

“The quick release of these funds will help to ensure the bridge is repaired safely and in a timely manner to prevent any further disruption to the hundreds of thousands of people who travel it on a daily basis,” said Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. “I also commend the first responders who saved countless lives by taking swift and appropriate action at the onset of this incident.”

The $10 million in “quick release” funding will be used to restore emergency access and to initiate the most critical repairs to these damaged roadways and bridges in the next few weeks.

The bridge was built in 1953 and reconstructed in 1985 to accommodate increased traffic volumes. This section of I-85 carries an estimated 400,000 vehicles per day.

The area where the fire originated, the commissioner continued, is part of the state right of way that's used as a storage location for construction material, equipment and supplies. The site, a "secured area," contained items such as PVC piping, a "stable, non-combustible material," the commissioner stated.

No citizens or public safety crews were injured in connection to the fire and bridge's collapse.

Images via Georgia Department of Transportation