Riverside Drive Bridge To Close 3 Weekends in August

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- For those who rely on Riverside Drive in Sandy Springs as part of their daily commute, you may want to find an alternate route during three weekends in August.

That's because the Georgia Department of Transportation will close the bridge over I-285 in Sandy Springs for repairs and maintenance work.

Weather permitting, the closures will happen during the following dates next month: 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5 to Monday, Aug. 8; 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday, Aug. 12 to Aug. 15; and 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday, Aug. 19 to Monday, Aug. 22.

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The closures are part of GDOT's efforts to improve the interchange, and officials believe the installation of roundabouts will greatly enhance the safety of the area.

Currently, the interchange consists of one 12-foot lane in both directions with no turn lanes and traffic signals at the entrance and exit ramps. The existing configuration causes vehicles to block traffic traveling through the intersection.

The newly designed $5.6 million interchange will convert the existing signalized ramp intersections to single lane roundabouts. Two lanes will feed into the roundabout with one lane used to enter the roundabout and one lane used as a right turn lane. The project also includes sidewalks on both sides of Riverside Drive and bridge maintenance on the existing Riverside Drive Bridge over I-285.

Image via Patch