Traffic Alert: Upcoming Construction Will Close JCB Bridge

From a Gwinnett County press release:

The Gwinnett County Department of Transportation will close the I-85 at Jimmy Carter Boulevard bridge for the diverging diamond interchange crossover.

The project involves shifting traffic to the opposite side of the bridge, which will make left turns onto the interstate more efficient and improve the flow of traffic across the bridge.

The closure will begin at 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, weather and conditions permitting. The bridge will open to traffic by 5 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 17 with the new interchange configuration. Should conditions prevent the closure from occurring as planned, the backup closure period will be from Nov. 21-24.

The bridge will be closed to all through-traffic during the weekend, although construction will not impact right turn access to or from I-85. Drivers and pedestrians should take one of the planned detours detailed on www.gwinnettDDI.com.

Pedestrian traffic should continue to use the detour route for at least one month following crossover during the construction of pedestrian walkways.

After crossover, construction will continue on the center median and pedestrian facilities, while crews will finalize the signals, interchange lighting and pavement markings. The project is expected to be substantially complete in spring 2015. Once the project is complete, the bridge at Jimmy Carter Boulevard and I-85 will be Gwinnett County’s second diverging diamond interchange.

The Georgia Department of Transportation is currently constructing a new “flex lane” on the northbound lanes of I-85 adjacent to the project. That project is also expected to be complete in spring 2015 and will add a new lane on I-85 northbound from Jimmy Carter Boulevard to Indian Trail Road for use during the afternoon rush hour. The Georgia Department of Transportation project will further improve the flow of traffic in the area.

For information on how to drive the diamond, including a video rendering of the completed project, visit www.gwinnettDDI.com.

(Photo: Map shows the impacted area for planned work on the Jimmy Carter Boulevard interchange over Interstate 85)