Nightly Lane Closures Planned on I-85 This Week

Construction of the new Express Lane System along Interstate 85 continues. As weather permits, lane closures are scheduled to occur overnights only next week on the I-85 Express Lanes project in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. Work will require triple lane closures and traffic pacing overnights Wednesday through Saturday, the Georgia Department of Transportation announced.

The work plan requires nightly lane closures northbound and southbound. High Occupancy Vehicle lane or left lane will close overnight at these locations. Northbound lane closures will begin at 10 p.m. and continue overnight to 5 a.m. the next day. Southbound lane closures will begin at 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day.  This work is being done to install and test the conduit, cabling, antennas, cameras and other equipment that will operate the tolling network for the State Road and Tollway Authority.

• Sunday, July 14, and Monday, July 15 - Work will occur on I-85 south only from I-285 to north of Pleasantdale Road, closing the HOV lane. A second work zone is also planned for the I-285 west bound ramp to I-85 south only, the left lane of the ramp will close.
• Tuesday, July 16 - A work zone is planned along I-85 north and south. The northbound lane closure is from Steve Reynolds Blvd. to north of Pleasant Hill Road. The southbound lane closure is from SR 140/Jimmy Carter Blvd. to Steve Reynolds Blvd. A third work zone is planned for SR 315 westbound from I-85 to Herrington Road.
• Wednesday, July 18 - A work zone is planned along I-85 north and south from SR 120/Duluth Highway to Old Peachtree Road. The lane closure begins with one lane closed in each direction. At 11 p.m. a second left lane in each direction will close. At 12 a.m. a third left lane in each direction will close, and traffic will be paced from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. several times an hour.
• Thursday, July 19 - Two work zones are planned and will include closing multiple lanes and pacing traffic. The I-85 southbound work zone is from Steve Reynolds Blvd. to SR 378/Beaver Ruin Road. The I-85 northbound work zone is from SR 316 to SR 120/Duluth Highway. Each lane closure begins with one lane closed in each direction. At 11 p.m. a second left lane in each direction will close. At 12 a.m. a third left lane in each direction will close, and traffic will be paced from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. several times an hour.
• Friday, July 20 - Two work zones are planned and will include closing multiple lanes and pacing traffic.  The I-85 southbound work zone is from SR 140/Jimmy Carter Blvd. to Indian Trail Road. The I-85 northbound work zone is from Steve Reynolds Blvd. to Pleasant Hill Road. Each lane closure begins with one lane closed in each direction. At 11 p.m. a second left lane in each direction will close. At 12 a.m. a third left lane in each direction will close, and traffic will be paced from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. several times an hour.
• Saturday, July 21 - Two work zones are planned and will include closing multiple lanes and pacing traffic. The I-85 southbound work zone is from south of SR 140/Jimmy Carter Blvd. to one mile north of SR 140/Jimmy Carter Blvd. The I-85 northbound work zone is from Indian Trail Road to SR 378/Beaver Ruin Road. Each lane closure begins with one lane closed in each direction. At 11 p.m. a second left lane in each direction will close. At 12 a.m. a third left lane in each direction will close, and traffic will be paced from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. several times an hour.

The existing High Occupancy Vehicle lanes on I-85 will continue in operation allowing vehicles with two 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 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 more information on using the I-85 Express Lane visit www.peachpass.com operated by the State Road and Tollway Authority.

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