Drivers around Atlanta are being told to expect major delays this Mother’s Day weekend as crews shut down a busy stretch of Interstate 285 for a large reconstruction project.
All lanes of I-285 on the west side of the city will close between Cascade Road and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive starting Friday at 7 p.m., according to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and reporting from FOX 5 Atlanta and WSB-TV.
The highway is expected to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday.
The closure will affect traffic in both directions and is part of a larger effort to rebuild and improve a heavily traveled section of the interstate.
According to GDOT, crews will use the closure to repair aging road surfaces, including damaged concrete slabs and highway shoulders. Workers will also install new median barriers during the shutdown.
Drivers heading through the area will need to follow detours throughout the weekend. According to transportation officials:
- Southbound drivers on I-285 will be rerouted to I-20 and then toward the I-75/I-85 southbound interchange
- Drivers heading north or west will be directed onto Langford Parkway at Exit 5
The weekend closure is part of a much larger construction project happening along the west side of I-285. According to GDOT, the $206 million reconstruction effort stretches about 10 miles, from South Fulton Parkway in College Park to Collier Road. The overall project is expected to continue through 2028.
For people who live nearby, the timing of the closure is adding another layer of frustration. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, local resident Niesha Turner said traffic on side streets is likely to become overwhelming as drivers search for alternate routes during the holiday weekend.
Other drivers told reporters they understand why the work is needed. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, commuter Robert Fabian pointed to potholes and road conditions along the interstate that need repairs.
Transportation officials have not yet said whether weather could affect the schedule or if similar full highway shutdowns are planned for other weekends later this month.
Still, with one of metro Atlanta’s busiest highways completely closed for much of the weekend, officials are encouraging drivers to plan ahead, expect delays, and consider alternate routes if possible.
Sources: FOX 5 Atlanta, WSB-TV
