G-DOT Announces Lane Shifts This Weekend on I-85 Southbound

If you’ve traveled down I-85 southbound recently you will have encountered miles of road construction as the Georgia Dept of Transportation continues to work to add extra lanes and rebuild bridges.

On Monday, G-DOT announced that they will complete this current phase of construction implementing a southbound traffic shift this weekend.

Crews will shift traffic onto the three new southbound lanes on I-85 between SR 332 and US 129, between mile markers 135-137.

Beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday June 10, the roadway will be reduced to one lane with crews placing asphalt, installing temporary barrier wall and applying pavement markings.

Once that work is completed, traffic will be shifted to the new center lanes.

As a part of the Major Mobility Investment Program (MMIP), the project is widening I-85 north and southbound from two to three lanes between SR 53 and US 129, replacing one overpass bridge at SR 332 and the six interstate mainline bridges within the project limits, which includes:

Middle Oconee River, north and southbound
CSX Railroad, north and southbound
and Walnut Creek, north and southbound.

In addition to added lane capacity, the I-85 Widening, Phase II project will improve mobility for passenger and freight vehicles and support Georgia’s fast-growing economic development.

Once completed there will be an estimated 69 percent reduction in delays in the corridor.

The Major Mobility Investment Program (MMIP) is a grouping of large-scale projects expected to yield a significant reduction in congestion along with key freight and passenger corridors.

The projects will create additional capacity, improve the movement of freight, provide operational improvements and efficiencies, enhance safety, and decrease travel times.

For more information about the I-85 Widening, Phase II project can be found at https://majormobilityga.com/projects/i85wideningphase2/.