This Week's Work Plan for I-85 Express Lane Project

Construction of the new Express Lane System along Interstate 85 continues. Lane closures are scheduled to occur during the day and overnight on the project in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation. Installation of overhead signage is almost complete.

Daytime work will occur this week. Work hours northbound are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and southbound work hours at from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. between peak commute hours. Two work zones will occur daily as weather permits this week.

• Monday, July 25, through Friday, July 30, work will occur on I-85 closing the left lane or HOV lane from the Old Norcross Road Overpass to Boggs Road.
• Monday, July 25, a second work zone will occur on I-85 north only closing the left lane or HOV lane from Steve Reynolds Blvd for approximately for mile north of Steve Reynolds Boulevard.
• Tuesday, July 2, a second work zone will occur on I-85 north only closing the left lane or HOV lane from just north of Boggs Road to SR 120/Duluth Highway.
• Wednesday, July 27, a second work zone will occur on I-85 north only closing the left lane or HOV lane from SR 120/Duluth Highway to Sugarloaf Parkway.

This is the only daytime work scheduled for this week.

The work plan requires nightly lane closures southbound only. Southbound lane closures will begin at 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day. Lane closures will occur on SR 316 Thursday night if weather permits.

• Each night, Sunday, July 24, through Tuesday, July 26, work will occur on I-85, closing the right lane from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. from one mile south of Shallowford Road to Shallowford Road. A third work zone is also planned for SR 316 west only from the Breckinridge Boulevard Overpass to Sugarloaf Parkway. This work is to install the conduit, cabling, antennas, cameras and other equipment that will operate the tolling network for the State Road and Tollway Authority.
• Wednesday, July 27,, a single work zone is planned along I-85 south only from Chamblee Tucker Road to Pleasantdale Road for the installation of new signage and from Boggs Road to Sugarloaf Parkway for the installation of wireless systems.
• Thursday, July 28, a single work zone is planned along I-85 north only from Boggs Road to SR 317/Lawrenceville Suwanee Road for the installation of new signage and from Boggs Road to Sugarloaf Parkway for the installation of wireless systems.

Overnight weekend work is planned Friday, July 29, and Saturday, July 30,  from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. on I-85 south only closing the left or HOV lane. This work is to install the conduit, cabling, antennas, cameras and other equipment that will operate the tolling network for the State Road and Tollway Authority.

• Friday, July 29, work will occur on I-85 south only from Boggs Road to SR 317/Lawrenceville Suwanee Road.
• Saturday, July 30, work will occur on I-85 south only from SR 140/Jimmy Carter Boulevard to Steve Reynolds Boulevard.

The existing High Occupancy Vehicle lanes on I-85 will continue in operation allowing vehicles with 2 or more people, motorcycles and alternate fuel vehicles to use the lanes until the Express Lane System is opened.

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

When completed, registered transit buses, motorcycles, alternative fuel 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. 

Motorists can access real-time, statewide, route-specific information on accidents, road work, traffic and weather conditions through Georgia 511, a free phone, web, and mobile service.