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Lanes of I-285 will close again tonight for bridge inspection after fiery crash

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Traffic is moving again in the perimeter area after a traffic nightmare Monday.

All lanes of Interstate 285 in Dunwoody are back open after a fiery crash at Ashford Dunwoody Road. Channel 2 guided you through the mess as the interstate was shut down for hours, live during Channel 2 Action News at 4 p.m. on Monday. At least three people were hurt in the crash that led to the fire.

We’re speaking with GDOT officials on the fire’s impact on the major I-285/400 project in the area, on Channel 2 Action News at 5 p.m.

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All eastbound lanes opened after 6 p.m. but it wasn’t until 5 a.m. Tuesday before the other side reopened.

Channel 2′s Steve Gehlbach reported live as the westbound lanes reopened during Channel 2 Action News This Morning. One turn lane of Ashford Dunwoody Road northbound was still blocked.

Gehlbach learned that several lanes will have to close again later Tuesday.

The Georgia Department of Transportation will close two lanes at 11 p.m. for a couple of hours. Crews will need the time to further inspect and test the beams impacted by the fire.

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The fire broke out around 3 p.m. underneath the Ashford Dunwoody Road overpass.

Dunwoody Police said investigators determined one vehicle went around another vehicle that was stopped in traffic, which caused an initial crash with three vehicles. The tractor-trailer hit a black car which was pushed against the median barrier and flipped another car onto its side.

NewsChopper 2 also spotted at least two other cars were flipped onto their sides on the highway.

The tractor-trailer caught on fire when it came to a rest. Officials confirmed to Channel 2 that the tractor-trailer was carrying beer.

Once crews put the fire out, engineers were brought in to assess the structural integrity of the bridge.

GDOT officials said the bridge was built in 1971 and was in good condition prior to the fire.


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