Interstate 285 in Atlanta will be closed in both directions this weekend, starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 23, between Cascade Road at exit 7 and Highway 166 at exit 5 on the westside of Atlanta, Georgia, with all lanes expected to reopen by 5 a.m. on Monday, October 26, CDLLife reported, citing the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). GDOT's own notices had flagged the October 23-26 window in advance: its October 2 release, cancelling an earlier closure for weather, named October 23-26 as the next full closure for the same Cascade Road to SR 166/Langford Parkway stretch, and its October 19 notice listed lane closures on I-285 in southwest Fulton for October 23-26.
According to 11Alive reporting cited by CDLLife, I-285 was shut down in Smyrna last weekend, causing gridlock in and around the construction zone, with some motorists reporting a 30-minute drive just to travel half a mile.
GDOT says tractor-trailers were to blame for a lot of the traffic backups last weekend, pointing to truckers who ignored posted detours. Local trucking leaders say many drivers were simply confused, and believe there was not enough posted signage to properly direct truck drivers to the Interstate 75 southbound detour through downtown and onto the Connector at I-75/85.
GDOT says it is working with the Georgia Trucking Association to spread the word about the detours to carriers in and outside the state, to get more signage posted, and to coordinate better with law enforcement. The department says all drivers should avoid the closure area as much as possible this weekend.
Suggested detours include using Interstate 20 or Highway 166 to get into downtown Atlanta, and then the Interstate 75/85 Connector to head north or south through the city, CDLLife reported.
I-285 is the Perimeter ring road many through-trucks use to bypass downtown Atlanta. With both directions closed between exits 7 and 5 until Monday 5 a.m., plan on the I-20 / Highway 166 to I-75/85 Connector detour, allow extra time, and follow the posted truck detour signs — GDOT says ignoring them was the main cause of last weekend's gridlock on side roads.
What is solid
- I-285 is fully closed in both directions between Cascade Road (exit 7) and Highway 166/Langford Parkway (exit 5) from 7 p.m. Oct. 23 to 5 a.m. Oct. 26 — GDOT notices and CDLLife.
- Last weekend's Smyrna closure caused severe gridlock, including a reported 30 minutes to travel half a mile — 11Alive via CDLLife.
What is only claimed
- Why last weekend's gridlock was so bad is disputed: GDOT blames truckers who ignored posted detours; trucking leaders say drivers were confused and signage for the I-75 detour was inadequate.