I-285 construction at Georgia 400: What’s next?

May 27, 2021 Sandy Springs - Aerial photo shows construction site of I-285 interchange at Ga. 400 in Sandy Springs on Tuesday, May 27, 2021. The view is looking north on Georgia 400 and east on I-285 (in foreground) with the King and Queen buildings in the distance. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

A lot has changed since this photo was taken in 2010 of Ga. 400 and I-285 near the King and Queen buildings in Sandy Springs. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Artist’s rendering depicts the proposed, reconstructed interchange of I-285 and Ga. 400 in North Fulton and DeKalb counties. Work on the project is beginning, and double lane closures are planned for eastbound I-285 through Dec. 1 in the Glenridge Drive-Peachtree Dunwoody Road area, state highway officials say. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

May 27, 2021 Sandy Springs - Aerial photo shows construction site of I-285 interchange at Ga. 400 in Sandy Springs on Tuesday, May 27, 2021. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

May 27, 2021 Sandy Springs - Aerial photo shows construction site of I-285 interchange at Ga. 400 in Sandy Springs on Tuesday, May 27, 2021. This view shows I-285 looking toward the east. Cutting across the top of the photo is the new I-285 ramp Eastbound from Georgia 400. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Construction work at the interchange of I-285 and Ga. 400 on Aug. 8, 2019. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Overnight lane closures are planned along Ga. 400 in the Sandy Springs area as part of the upcoming reconstruction of its interchange with I-285. AJC FILE

October 5, 2020 Atlanta: Traffic traveled across the new flyover ramp on Ga. 400 South at I-285 East for the first time on Monday Oct. 5, 2020. First time motorists complained Monday about poor signage and expressed confusion to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. (John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com)

April 7, 2021 Sandy Springs: Getting in a day’s work before the rain comes, a lone construction worker throws aside a strap above Ga. 400 at the rising $800 million dollar, I-285 interchange at Ga. 400 against the backdrop of the King and Queen buildings of Concourse at Landmark Center. (John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com)

August 19, 2020 Atlanta: Getting in a day’s work before the rain came, a lone construction worker straddles the column above Ga. 400 at the rising $800 million dollar, I-285 interchange at Ga. 400 on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020 in Sandy Springs against the backdrop of the King and Queen buildings of Concourse at Landmark Center. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

July 1, 2020 Sandy Springs - Construction takes place along SR 400 near of the I-285/Ga. 400 interchange in Sandy Springs on Wednesday, July 1, 2020. .(Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

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May 27, 2021 Sandy Springs - Aerial photo shows construction site of I-285 interchange at Ga. 400 in Sandy Springs on Tuesday, May 27, 2021. The view is looking north on Georgia 400 and east on I-285 (in foreground) with the King and Queen buildings in the distance. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

By David Wickert

Aug 20, 2021

What: The Georgia Department of Transportation will reduce the number of lanes on I-285 from five to three from Roswell Road to Ashford Dunwoody Road.

When: The closures are tentatively set to begin in June 2022. The original schedule was to close them the weekend after Labor Day 2021.

How long: The lane closures are expected to last through June.

Impact: Expect substantial delays on I-285 and Ga. 400. GDOT urges motorists to find alternative routes or travel at off-peak times. If they must use the interchange, GDOT advises motorists to give themselves an extra half-hour to get where they’re going.

I-285 traffic mess could continue for a year

About the Author

David Wickert

David Wickert writes about the state budget, finance and voting issues. Previously, he covered local government and politics in Gwinnett and Fulton counties. Before moving to Atlanta, he worked at newspapers in Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington.

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I-285 construction at Georgia 400: What’s next?

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