Lane closures, traffic changes near I-85 bridge

ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Transportation said they will begin closing lanes and pacing traffic Friday in preparation of the reopening of Interstate 85 by Monday morning.

“These closures will allow Georgia DOT to restore traffic conditions that existed prior to the closure of I-85,” the transit organization said in a news release Thursday.

[I-85 BRIDGE COLLAPSE: Live traffic map, alternate routes, live video from construction site, more]

On Thursday, beginning around 9 p.m., crews returned SR 13/Buford Hwy NB, the ramps from Sidney Marcus to SR 400 NB, and Piedmont Circle back to their original configurations.

The ramp from I-85 NB to SR 13/Buford Hwy NB returned to a single lane, and the merge points between Armour Drive and Piedmont Road was restored.

The SR 400 NB on-ramp at Sidney Marcus returned to a single lane. Piedmont Circle went back to two lanes eastbound and one lane westbound.

The work ended around 5 a.m.

[TIMELINE: In just 6 weeks, I-85 almost set to reopen for traffic]

On Friday, beginning around 9 p.m., crews will close the Buford Spring Connector southbound at I-85 southbound including access from I-85 southbound, Piedmont Road southbound and Armour Drive. This closure will allow crews to convert the on-ramp to I-85 southbound back to a single lane in preparation for the reopening of I-85 southbound.

GDOT is urging people to plan ahead or use alternate routes while the changes are being made.

Gov. Nathan Deal announced Wednesday that I-85 will be back open to traffic by the Monday morning rush hour. The interstate closed six weeks ago after a fire collapsed the overpass bridge that runs over Piedmont Road.

Cox Media Group