Work Continues Day & Night On I-85 Express Lanes

DULUTH – The Georgia Department of Transportation announced that lane closures are scheduled to occur day and night on the Interstate 85 Express Lanes Project in DeKalb and Gwinnett Counties this week. GDOT's contractor World Fiber Technologies will work as weather permits. No work occurred last week on this project due to inclement winter weather.

“Crews are planning to work night and day this week. Overnight 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. Portions of the HOV lane northbound will be closed during the day. There will also be overnight closures on I 85 north closing the outside lane at several locations,” Randall Davis, DOT construction engineer, said

The work plan requires lane closures at several locations overnight every night that weather permits. 

• The right or outside lane of I-85 northbound only will close every night, Monday, Jan. 17, through Thursday, Jan. 20, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for directional boring beginning at Pleasant Hill Road to north of State Route 316/University Parkway
• Both directions of the HOV lane or inside lane will close overnight for work along the median wall, the location will change each night.                                 The HOV lane northbound will close at 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day.             The HOV lane southbound will close at 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day.           
• On Monday, Jan. 17, and Tuesday, Jan. 18, the HOV lane will close from State Rout 378/Beaver Ruin Road to Steve Reynolds Boulevard.
• Wednesday, Jan. 19, and Thursday, Jan. 20, the HOV lane will close from Indian Trail Road to Steve Reynolds Boulevard.

Daytime work along the median wall will close the HOV lane in both directions this week Monday through Thursday. 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.

• Monday, Jan. 17, and Tuesday, Jan. 18, the HOV lane northbound and southbound will close from State Route 378/Beaver Ruin Road to Steve Reynolds Boulevard.
• Wednesday, Jan. 19, through Friday, Jan. 21, the northbound and southbound HOV lane will close from Indian Trail Road to Steve Reynolds Boulevard. 

The 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. This $11.7-million project was awarded to Alpharetta-based World Fiber Technologies Inc.

When 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. 

For additional information and construction updates on this project, please email Teri Pope at tpope@dot.ga.gov

Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about these or any other construction projects on interstates and state routes. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, and delays due to inclement weather. Callers also can transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.