GDOT summer road projects to cause delays

ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Transportation announced it will begin several major road repair projects after the Fourth of July holiday that will have a big impact on Metro Atlanta commuters.

"Significant delays surrounding these projects are unavoidable," said GDOT spokesperson Natalie Dale.  "In fact, your only chance of avoiding them is to plan ahead."

The biggest projects include replacing deteriorating concrete slabs along a 17-mile stretch of I-285 between Paces Ferry Road and Camp Creek Parkway. Crews also plan to repair joints on 16 bridges and overpasses along I-20 from the Downtown Connector to the Chattahoochee River.

GDOT will also begin resurfacing projects on I-20 around Carroll County on the west side and Newton County on the east side. All the projects could take several months to complete.

Dale urged commuters to use alternate routes and to monitor traffic reports for current information.

"We simply cannot emphasize enough the importance of planning ahead, using alternate routes when using the west side of town," said Dale. "It's going to be a bit of a bear."

Road construction is also planned for several highways around the Lake Lanier area of Gwinnett, Hall and Forsyth Counties including State Route 20 between Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and Samples Road, and State Route 347 between I-985 to Lake Lanier Islands.

Click here for a list of construction projects GDOT has scheduled this summer.

WSBTV