Triple and Quadruple Overnight Lane Closures Planned On I-85

Overnight work will continue on I-85 express lanes through Dekalb and Gwinnett until Thursday morning, as weather permits, but will require triple and quadruple lane closures and overnight traffic pacing. This work, however, will be suspended from 5 a.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, “to allow Georgia motorists to more easily enjoy Labor Day weekend’s figurative end of summer,” according to a press release from the Georgia Department of Transportation. However, officials still urge caution on what is expected to be a heavy traffic weekend.

In the meantime, the work plan on the Express lanes requires nightly lane closures north and southbound. High Occupancy Vehicle lane or left lane will close overnight at these locations, weather permitting. 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 for that night’s work between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. for the installation of antennas and cabling. This work is 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, Aug. 28: A work zone on I-85 north and south from SR 316 to Old Peachtree Road. A second work zone is 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. 31: A work zones is planned on I-85 northbound only  and will close one lane from south of Pleasant Hill Road to SR 316.

The existing High Occupancy Vehicle 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.