Overnight Work on I-85 Only Through Wednesday

Construction of the new Express Lane System along Interstate 85 continues with overnight work only through Wednesday. GDOT announced that work will require triple and quadruple lane closures and traffic pacing overnights in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties.

To enable Georgia motorists to more easily enjoy Labor Day weekend’s end of summer holiday, the Georgia Department of Transportation is suspending construction-related lane closures beginning at 5 a.m. next Friday, Sept. 2, and extending until 5 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6.  

GDOT reminds travelers to exercise caution nonetheless as heavy holiday traffic is expected throughout the state. Crews may be still be working in proximity to highways, and safety concerns may require some long-term lane closures remain in place. Also, incident management or emergency, maintenance-related lane closures could become necessary at any time on any route.

The work plan requires nightly lane closures northbound and southbound. High Occupancy Vehicle lanes or left lanes will close overnight at these locations if weather permits. 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. Up to four lanes will be closed nightly. These quadruple lane closures will only occur after midnight. Traffic will be paced one to three times as needed for that night’s work between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. for the installation of antennas and cabling that will operate the tolling network for the State Road and Tollway Authority. Here’s the work plan:

• Sunday, Aug. 28 - A work zone on I-85 north and south from SR 316 to Old Peachtree Road. A second work zone planned on I-85 north only from Northcrest Road to I-285 and after midnight will close four lanes and pace traffic.
• Monday, Aug. 29 - Two work zones are planned along I-85 northbound only. The first northbound work zone begins south of SR 378/Beaver Ruin Rd. and will include closing four lanes and pacing traffic after midnight. The second work zone is also on I-85 north from SR 140/Jimmy Carter 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.
• Tuesday, Aug. 30 - A work zone is planned to close one lane on I-85 north and south. The northbound work zone is from Northcrest Road to SR 378/Beaver Ruin Road. The southbound lane closure begins at Chamblee Tucker Road to SR 140/Jimmy Carter Blvd. 
• Wednesday, Aug. 30 – Work is planned on I-85 northbound only and will close one lane from south of Pleasant Hill Road to SR 316.

Existing HOV lanes on Interstate 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 I-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 System, visit www.peachpass.com.

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. For more information about 511, visit www.511ga.org.