Community Corner

I-85 Lane Closures Scheduled Again This Week

Daytime, overnight work continues on Express Lanes Project in Gwinnett

DULUTH, GA – Lane closures are again scheduled to occur day, night and through the weekend on the Interstate 85 Express Lanes Project in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. GDOT’s contractor World Fiber Technologies will work almost around the clock as weather permits, according to an announcement from the Georgia Department of Transportation.

“Our contractor is working every time possible on this project. Weeknights, crews will be closing the High Occupancy Vehicle Lane in both directions to remove the existing median wall and install the new equipment needed for the express lane system," explained GDOT Construction Engineer Randall Davis. "Portions of the HOV lane, in both directions, will be closed during the day. There will also be weekend long closures on I-85 North and South, closing the HOV lane. Bottom line is expect lane closures along I-85 all the time except morning and evening rush hour,” Davis said.

The work plan requires lane closures at several locations overnight every weeknight.

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  • Both directions of the High Occupancy Vehicle lane or inside lane will close overnight  Monday, Feb. 7, through Friday, Feb. 11, for work along the median wall from Beaver Ruin Road/State Route 378 to Jimmy Carter Blvd./SR 140. The HOV lane northbound will close from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day. The HOV lane southbound will close from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day.                                                                                                   
  • From Monday, Feb. 7, through Friday, Feb. 11, the HOV lane will be closed from Steve Reynolds Blvd. to Boggs Road.                                

Daytime work along the median wall will close the HOV lane in both directions Monday through Friday. Work hours northbound are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and southbound work hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., between peak commute hours.

The HOV lane northbound and southbound will close from Beaver Ruin Roas/SR 378 to Jimmy Carter Blvd./SR 140 from Monday, Feb. 7, through Friday, Feb. 1

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Weekend work will continue every weekend that weather allows. Crews will work on the new concrete foundations for the new overhead structures. These new structures will support the technological infrastructure and signage needed to operate the Express Lane System. The work plan for Friday, Beb. 11, through Monday, Feb. 14, requires closings lanes on the interstate both north and southbound. Beginning at 9 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday, the two left lanes of I-85 north and one left lane of I-85 south will close. The lanes will be closed from Northcrest Road to Chamblee-Tucker Road in DeKalb County.  

The $11.7-million I-85 Express Lanes Project includes installation of 16 miles of fiber and signage along I-85 between Chamblee-Tucker Road and Old Peachtree Road and along State Route 316 between I-85 and Riverside Parkway.

When the project is completed, registered transit buses, motorcycles, alternative fueled vehicles and vehicles with three or more passengers will be allowed to use the inside (left) HOT lane for free, while single- and double-occupant vehicles will be allowed to use the lane if they choose to pay a variably priced toll. 

GDOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about these or any other construction projects on interstates and state routes. More information is available at www.511ga.org.


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