by Robin Kemp
Commuters in Clayton and Henry Counties, as well as those headed to Florida, will find things a bit slow on I-75 for the next several months, starting Wednesday night.
The Georgia Department of Transportation will be replacing 6.095 miles of I-75 in both directions in Clayton and Henry and Counties–and closing lanes to get it done by next summer.
The project stretches from just south of Exit 233 (Morrow/GA 54-Jonesboro Road) to just south of the Walt Stephens Road overpass (MP 225) in Stockbridge.
According to GDOT, Webber Construction crews will be working every weeknight, weather permitting, on the $15.4 million project:
Here’s GDOT’s list of anticipated lane closures:
Northbound towards Atlanta
• Nightly, except Fridays: Single lane closures start at 7:00 p.m. and increase to double lane closures from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next day
• Fridays: Single lane closures start at 8:00 p.m. and increase to double lane closures from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning
Southbound Lanes:
• Weeknights: Single lane closures start at 8:00 p.m. and increase to double lane closures from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next day, with single lane closures then continuing to noon
• Saturdays: Double lane closures start at 7:00 p.m. and continue to 8:00 a.m. Sunday, with single lane closures then going until 10:00 a.m.
• Sundays: Double lane closures start at 7:00 p.m. and continue to 8:00 a.m. Monday, with single lane closures then going until noon
GDOT has set up extra message boards along the way to let drivers know which lanes will be closing and to advise of any delays. GDOT also will post that information to Facebook and Twitter on its “GDOT-West” accounts “as necessary.”
According to GDOT, “All drivers should expect back-ups during the overnight work hours.”
And if you’re driving further south on I-75 in the coming months, expect construction delays down past Perry.
Here’s a video from GDOT’s Penny Brooks explaining the project in more detail:
Planning ahead, making extra time to travel, and finding alternate routes are crucial.
“Motorists are advised to expect delays, exercise caution, and reduce their speed while traveling through work zones,” Jones said. “Before heading out, get real-time information on work status and traffic conditions. Call 511, visit 511ga.org, or download the Georgia 511 app. Our maintenance team members who repair roads and bridges and our project teams who oversee construction projects are continuing their essential work, while following sanitary work practices prescribed by health agencies to protect themselves and the public from the coronavirus, as are most state DOTs in the U.S.”
You can find alternate routes by dialing *511, or by downloading the free NaviGator app for real-time traffic information on iOS or Android phones.
Be sure to slow down in the construction zone for the safety of the workers.
