Atlanta weekend traffic: Dogwood Festival to bring 85,000 to Midtown

If you haven’t already done so, now would be a good time to make MARTA your friend.

Nearly 85,000 people are expected to flood the streets of Midtown this weekend to attend the 81st annual Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park.

And with the I-85 bridge expected to be reopen June 15 and crowded back roads, MARTA may be your best bet.

The festival is from noon to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

“(We are) prepared for increased activity and will have officers available to assisted with traffic and security issues,” Atlanta police said. “Please be patient and be prepared for large crowds.”

Police are encouraging drivers to use MARTA or carpool to decrease traffic expected in the area.

And the fewer cars the better.

The “Festival of Laughs” on 8 p.m. Friday at Phillips Arena and the Duran, Duran concert 8 p.m. Saturday at Chastain Park Amphitheater will likely round out the bulk of Atlanta traffic.

Comedy fans are lucky. They’re a stone’s throw from Phillips Arena Station and within walking distance of Five Points Station.

Duran, Duran fans may want to consider carpooling.

If you do, here are a list of road closures, detours and alternative routes:

I-85 northbound traffic is being diverted to Buford Spring connector for local travel only;
I-75/I-85 northbound traffic is being diverted to I-75NB. 17th Street is last available northbound exit prior to Brookwood split; (Read: Northbound? How to bypass the bridge collapse and return to I-85)
I-75SB ramp to I-85NB ramp is closed;
SR 400SB to I-85SB is closed. Traffic diverted to I-85NB. Sidney Marcus Blvd is last available exit;
I-85 SB is closed. Traffic diverted to SR 400NB. Lenox/Cheshire Bridge is last available exit;
Buford Spring connector southbound is open from Piedmont Road;
Buford Spring connector northbound is now open from Spring/West Peachtree and Peachtree Street.