Atlanta, Georgia – A normally busy stretch of Interstate 285 will become a hard stop this weekend, forcing every driver off the highway and onto a lengthy detour around Atlanta.
From Friday evening through early Monday morning, motorists should prepare for extreme delays as construction crews shut down all northbound and southbound lanes between South Atlanta Road and Paces Ferry Road.
The complete closure is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Friday, August 7, and remain in place until 5 a.m. Monday, August 10, weather permitting. The affected section crosses the cities of Atlanta and Smyrna in Fulton County.
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On northbound I-285, every lane will close between South Atlanta Road at exit 16 and Paces Ferry Road at exit 18. The southbound side will be closed across the same area, from Paces Ferry Road to South Atlanta Road.
Traffic approaching the work zone will not be allowed through. Roadside message boards, overhead signs and temporary construction signage will guide motorists onto a detour using I-75, the I-75/I-85 Downtown Connector and I-20.
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The Georgia Department of Transportation is warning drivers who regularly use the westside corridor to begin planning alternate routes now. Even motorists who avoid the immediate construction area could encounter heavier traffic as vehicles are redirected onto surrounding interstates and local roads.
The shutdown is part of the I-285 Westside Rebuild project, a major concrete reconstruction and rehabilitation effort extending from Collier Drive in Fulton County to Paces Ferry Road in Cobb County.
During the closure, crews will mill and grind sections of concrete roadway in preparation for repairing or replacing damaged slabs. Closing the entire segment gives workers enough room to safely operate large equipment while limiting the risk to motorists passing through the construction zone.
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The broader project also includes work on shoulder lanes, the concrete median, signs, guardrails and advanced traffic management and intelligent transportation systems. Drivers should expect lane patterns and other roadway features to continue changing as construction progresses.
GDOT said motorists should allow significant additional travel time or avoid the corridor entirely. The agency recommends using the 511GA app for real-time Georgia traffic conditions and current lane-closure information. Other navigation apps may also help, but conditions could change quickly throughout the weekend.
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The Westside Rebuild carries a price tag of $155.2 million and is one of two projects aimed at repairing or replacing concrete slabs along western I-285. Completion is currently scheduled for 2028.
Drivers traveling near the work zone should reduce speed, follow posted directions, wear seatbelts, avoid distractions and move over when possible to protect construction crews.
