Drivers across metro Atlanta are being warned to prepare for heavy traffic and major delays this Mother's Day weekend as a stretch of Interstate 285 shuts down for construction. The Georgia Department of Transportation announced that all lanes on the west side of I-285 will close between Cascade Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive starting Friday evening.
Rough Draft Atlanta reported the shutdown begins at 7 p.m. Friday, May 8, and will last through the weekend as GDOT crews begin major repairs to the interstate. The closure affects one of the busiest sections of the Perimeter, carrying traffic between the airport corridor and the northwest suburbs.
GDOT is urging drivers to plan alternate routes and expect significant delays throughout the weekend. Suggested detours include using I-20 and I-75/I-85 to bypass the closed section, though those highways are expected to see increased congestion as traffic diverts. Local roads near the closure, including Cascade Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, will also likely see heavier than normal traffic.
The timing of the closure during Mother's Day weekend has drawn criticism from some residents and business owners who worry about the impact on holiday gatherings and restaurant traffic. GDOT officials said the weekend closure allows them to complete work more quickly than overnight lane restrictions would permit, ultimately reducing the total disruption to commuters.
11Alive and Fox 5 Atlanta both covered the closure, emphasizing that travelers heading to or from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport should allow extra time and consider alternate routes. The closure is part of ongoing maintenance work on the Perimeter that GDOT says is necessary to address aging infrastructure.
