ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — If you’re traveling anywhere around metro Atlanta from Friday night through Monday morning, go ahead and emotionally prepare now.
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is shutting down all lanes of I-285 on the westside for the entire weekend, meaning there’s no sneaking through, no “I’ll just slide by,” and no magical shortcut that ends with you victorious.
MORE COVERAGE: All lanes to close on I-285 westside this weekend | What you need to know to get around
What’s closed (and when)
Full closure: I-285 northbound and southbound between SR 139/Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (Exit 9) and Cascade Road (Exit 7) in Fulton County.
Starts: 7 p.m. Friday, May 8
Reopens: 5 a.m. Monday, May 11 (weather/conditions permitting)
No traffic gets through this stretch during the closure.
What to expect: the ripple effect
GDOT isn’t shutting down a sleepy back road. This is one of metro Atlanta’s busiest corridors, so the congestion won’t politely stay in one place. Expect region-wide delays all weekend, plus spillover into local streets across southwest Atlanta and Fulton County.
We’ll likely see heavy congestion on:
- I-20
- I-75/I-85 (Downtown Connector)
- SR 166 / Langford Parkway
- Local roads nearby (aka: the streets your GPS will “discover” at the exact same time as everyone else’s)
Detours: where you’ll be sent
Detours will be marked, but “marked” doesn’t mean “fast.”
Southbound I-285 traffic:
- Exit 10 to I-20 → then I-75/I-85 southbound
Northbound + westbound I-285 traffic:
- Exit 5 to SR 166/Langford Parkway
Why GDOT is closing the whole thing
This is part of the 10-mile I-285 westside reconstruction project. Crews will mill and grind existing concrete, then prep for slab repair and replacement.
GDOT says the full closure is needed to safely operate heavy equipment, give crews enough room to work and protect drivers in the work zone.
Your “before you go” checklist
- Avoid westside I-285 if at all possible.
- If you can’t, leave early. Then leave earlier.
- Check 511GA or your navigation app before you head out.
- Follow posted signs and expect changing patterns.
Safety quick hits (because work zones are real life)
- Buckle up
- Slow down
- Stay off the phone
- Move over when you can
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