Extra Southbound Lane on I-85 Now Open in Jackson County

The Georgia Department of Transportation contractors have opened an additional lane on Interstate 85 southbound from mile marker (MM) 137 to MM 143 in Jackson County.

Crews did some final work removing barriers and completed striping overnight Friday. On Saturday, they reopened the widened segment of the roadway from MM 143 to MM 137 on I-85 southbound.

The southbound lane opening follows the recent opening of the same segment of I-85 northbound as well as an additional 1.5-mile northbound segment last week.

The 13-mile project is widening I-85 northbound and southbound from two to three lanes from US 129 to US 441.

Construction is also replacing and widening four mainline bridges in two locations and builds upon the widening completed as part of the previous I-85 Widening, Phase 1, and Phase 2 projects.

The projects are part of the long-range plan to widen I-85 to the South Carolina state line increasing capacity and improving traffic flow through the corridor.