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Southbound traffic on I-85 between I-285 and Ga. Highway 74 will get more clogged on weekends and weeknights thanks to a lengthy pavement repair project that begins Saturday morning. Double lane closures up to two miles long are planned and traffic delays are likely, officials said. Photo/John Munford

Get ready for I-85 delays

Southbound lanes first affected by weekend, nighttime schedule

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Starting Saturday morning, the two left lanes of I-85 southbound between Ga. Highway 74 and I-285 will be closed for the beginning of an intensive pavement repair project.

Weather permitting, the lanes will be closed beginning Saturday morning at 9 a.m. through 5 a.m. Monday, according to officials with the Georgia Department of Transportation.

During the week, the double lane closures will continue from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weeknights, officials said. The weekend work schedule will be from 9 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday. The project has an estimated completion date of late fall 2005.

Delays should be expected along the eight-mile stretch of Interstate; the lane closures will be for no longer than two miles at a time, officials said.

Construction is not expected to begin on the northbound portion of the project for several months, DOT officials said.

“Delays will happen from these lane closures, but this project is necessary due to the level of pavement cracking and distress that is visible in this area,” said Mickey McGee, metro district construction engineer. “We cannot overemphasize that motorists must plan their routes before getting on the road and add some extra time to their commutes.”

This section of the Interstate was built about 35 years ago, so some of the lanes will require reconstruction, DOT officials said.

Motorists can stay up-to-date on the project by surfing to www.georgia-navigator.com for construction updates. The site also offers MyNavigator, which provides customized route information that can be downloaded to personal computers, cell phones and PDAs. Construction information is also available 24 hours a day by calling 1-888-419-GDOT (4368) or by dialing *DOT on Verizon, Cingular or AT&T cell phones.