Thursday March 28th, 2024 2:36PM

I-85 in Atlanta to re-open Monday, nearly five weeks ahead of original schedule

By AccessWDUN Staff

A portion of Interstate 85 in Atlanta, closed after a fire on March 30, is scheduled to re-open Monday, May 15, almost five weeks ahead of the original projected opening. 

Gov. Nathan Deal, along with Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Commissioner Russell McMurry and State Transportation Board Chairman Robert L. Brown Jr., announced the reopening at a Tuesday morning press conference at the State Capitol. 

The northbound and southbound lanes of the I-85 bridge over Piedmont Road in the Buckhead area are projected to open to traffic by morning rush hour on May 15. The new opening date is nearly two weeks earlier than GDOT’s most recent commitment of Memorial Day weekend, and five weeks ahead of the original projected opening date of June 15.

“While this situation has been a tremendous challenge, the response from the people of Georgia has been nothing less than remarkable,” said Deal. “It is extraordinary that in just six weeks, this critical piece of infrastructure is nearly ready to reopen for motorist use following the fire and bridge collapse."

Deal also thanked federal government officials for quickly opening up funding for the project.

"I am grateful to President Trump and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao for providing the financial assistance necessary to complete the bridge on an expedited timeframe."

McMurry praised the design and construction crews who have worked round the clock to get the interstate back open to traffic. 

“We knew that the closure of the corridor would have a major impact on local and regional travel. We have been laser-focused not only on rapid construction, but also on safety and efficiency,” said McMurry.

“Six weeks is an amazingly short timeframe to complete this project. At the same time, it is probably the most inspected, most scrutinized construction project Georgia DOT has ever undertaken, with our inspectors working on site around the clock. We did our due diligence each day and every step of the way.”

A press statement from the Governor's Office said to date, GDOT has logged more than 3,500 man hours of on-site inspections, with as many as eight inspectors on-site at a time. Inspections include examining the fabricated steel beams off-site and inspecting them again for size and spacing on-site. Inspectors also sampled and tested the concrete before it was poured.

This high-traffic section of I-85 carries nearly 243,000 vehicles each day under normal circumstances. GDOT estimates approximately $27 million in motorist savings by opening I-85 weeks ahead of original projections.

  • Associated Categories: Homepage, Local/State News, Politics
  • Associated Tags: GDOT, I-85, Georgia Department of Transportation , bridge collapse, Atlanta traffic
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