The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) announced that all northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 285 between State Route 139/Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive (exit 9) and Cascade Road (exit 7) in Fulton County will be fully closed from 7 p.m. Friday, June 5, until 5 a.m. Monday, June 8, weather and onsite conditions permitting.
No traffic will be permitted through this section during the closure period. GDOT said the closure is necessary for ongoing construction to rebuild this segment of I-285 and is expected to have significant impacts on travel throughout the metro Atlanta area. The department noted that heavy rain is currently forecast for the preceding weekend, which may impact preparation work and could postpone the planned closure. GDOT said it will communicate any schedule changes as soon as possible.
Motorists should expect significant region-wide delays across metro Atlanta, with heavy congestion anticipated on I-20, I-75/I-85, SR 166/Langford Parkway, and spillover traffic on local roads throughout southwest Atlanta and Fulton County. Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time, consider alternate routes or adjust travel times, and check traffic conditions before leaving using navigation tools such as the 511GA app.
Clearly marked detours will be in place: southbound I-285 traffic will be diverted to I-20 (Exit 10 A) to I-75/I-85 southbound; northbound and westbound I-285 traffic will be diverted to SR 166/Langford Parkway (Exit 5). Overhead message boards and roadside signage will alert drivers in advance of the closure.
This closure supports the ongoing I-285 Westside reconstruction project spanning ten miles from SR 14/South Fulton Parkway in College Park to Collier Road. Contractor crews will mill existing concrete pavement and prepare for slab repair and replacement operations requiring full closures for safety reasons. Additional full closures are expected as part of efforts to facilitate faster construction through project completion scheduled for 2028.
The Georgia Department of Transportation delivers transportation solutions that support economic development across Georgia; employs about 4,000 staff members with an operating budget over $4.5 billion; focuses on developing roadways while supporting rail, transit, bike and pedestrian programs; operates under the State Transportation Board; serves residents statewide through its network; and works with local governments and federal agencies to advance transportation efforts, according to the official website.
