Repaving resumes on northbound Connector

By Mike Morris

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The two-week reprieve from construction delays that weekend Downtown Connector motorists have enjoyed ended at 9 p.m. Friday, as the summer-long repaving project shifted back into high gear.

Noon Saturday, northbound traffic on the Downtown Connector was backed up from south of I-20 through Midtown. Southbound traffic was flowing well.

Officials with the state Department of  Transportation are warning northbound motorists to expect heavy delays this weekend between 10th Street and the Brookwood Interchange as resurfacing related to the 14th Street Bridge project continues.

The three regular travel lanes to I-75 northbound will be shut down from until 5 a.m. Monday, according to the DOT.  All I-75 northbound traffic will have to use the HOV lane to access I-75.

The two right lanes of I-85 are also closed, the DOT said.

Crystal Paulk-Buchanan, a spokeswoman for the DOT, said that over the weekend, crews will remove and replace nearly 40,000 tons of material.

Scheduled work was postponed two weeks ago because of the threat of inclement weather, and last weekend due to the Labor Day holiday.

The biggest event likely to be impacted by the closure will be the Falcons home game against the Miami Dolphins at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

In Gwinnett County, the DOT says that the two left lanes of U.S. 78 in both directions between East Park Place and Highpoint Road will be closed for construction between 7 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday.

Those lanes should be reopened in time for  game-day traffic headed to Athens for the University of Georgia's home opener against South Carolina at 7 p.m. on Saturday.