PHOTOS: Atlanta's Perimeter highway through the years

Things to Do

Flashback photos: I-285 through the years

It's been called the most dangerous highway in the country.

Gov. Lester Maddox is up and away through the paper barrier at the opening of I-285 on Oct. 15, 1969. That makes Atlanta's famed circular bypass 47 years old this week. It's been called the deadliest roadway in the U.S., but it has become a symbol of our city and a highway many Atlantans love to hate. (Joe McTyre/AJC staff) CHECK OUT MORE OF OUR FLASHBACK PHOTOS GALLERIES, INCLUDING LOOKS BACK AT MIDTOWN AND CABBAGETOWN IN THE 1970s.

Crews work on the ramp to I-285 at Spaghetti Junction where lanes around the area closed due to heavy rain on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010. Hyosub Shin, hshin@ajc.com. See more of our Flashback fotos galleries and get a look at Atlanta's past.

Aerial view of Spaghetti Junction (I-85 at I-285) looking south toward Atlanta (well out of view) in February 1992. Circular building is old Presidential Hotel.

From the original caption in January of 1987: "NEARING COMPLETION: This aerial photograph, taken from the southeast corner of the Interstate 285/ Interstate 85 interchange, shows that 10 of the 13 planned bridges are finished. State officials say the project will be completed later this year."

From the original caption in Feburary 1984: "I-85 north/I-285 Interchange Work is about one-third complete on massive improvements to the interstate-85 north/ I-285 interchange, a $71 million myriad of connector roads scheduled to be finished by June 1986. The interchange, currently two levels, will double to four levels and is expected to eliminate congestion on some of the off-ramps. Some roadways has been widened and some of the loops have been temporarily relocated during construction. Contractors have some 250 people working on the project. The revamped interchange is designed to handle up to 300,000 vehicles daily, with 8,000 during rush hours by the year 2,000, according to Paul Mullins, a highway construction engineer for the state Department of Transportation. Wednesday, the Atlanta Journal will look at another urban highway project."

Automobiles get stacked up as they travel through Spaghetti Junction going northbound on I-85 Friday afternoon in Atlanta, Ga., March 29, 2013. The photograph was taken just north of Spaghetti Juntion on Northcrest Road. JASON GETZ / JGETZ@AJC.COM

Aerials over Atlanta on January 12, 1999. The Tom Moreland Interchange, 'Spaghetti Junction' I85 and I285 looking North. (W.A. Bridges Jr./AJC Staff)

An embryonic Spaghetti Junction: Aerial view over the construction of Interstate 85 and Interstate 285, Atlanta, Georgia, September 27, 1961. Photo taken by AJC staffer Floyd Jillson.

Spaghetti Junction, shot Thursday 3/22/2001. (BITA HONARVAR/STAFF)

Motorists make their way through Spaghetti Junction during Atlanta's ice storm Saturday 1/29/2000. (PHOTO BY BITA HONARVAR/AJC STAFF)

An undated photo of the construction at the I-85 North and I-285 interchange. AJC fille photo

I-85/I-285 interchange 1973

060619 - ATLANTA, GA - Aerial photo of "Spaghetti Junction" -- the intersection of I-85 and I-285 -- for METPRIVATE. Heaviest traffic in photos is eastbound on I-285. Photos taken Monday, June 19, 2006. (JENNI GIRTMAN/AJC STAFF)

Tom Moreland Interchange looking west down I-285. Interstates 85 and 285 are now connected in DeKalb County by 12 ramps and 14 bridges on 311 acres. The reconstruction has transformed the maddening battle into a mildly entertaining ride. (Nick Arroyo/AJC staff) 1987

Tom Moreland Interchange looking west down I-285. Interstates 85 and 285 are now connected in DeKalb County by 12 ramps and 14 bridges on 311 acres. The reconstruction has transformed the maddening battle into a mildly entertaining ride. (Nick Arroyo/AJC staff) 1987

Tom Moreland Interchange looking west down I-285. Interstates 85 and 285 are now connected in DeKalb County by 12 ramps and 14 bridges on 311 acres. The reconstruction has transformed the maddening battle into a mildly entertaining ride. (Nick Arroyo/AJC staff) 1987

Construction of the Tom Moreland interchange of I-85 north and I-285 in 1987.

Spaghetti Junction / Tom Moreland Interchange / I-285 / I-85. Dillon-Reynolds Aerial Photography, Inc. Dek 208. 5-6-70

Spaghetti Junction / Tom Moreland Interchange / I-285 / I-85. Dillon-Reynolds Aerial Photography, Inc. ATL 97 - 6483. 2-17-97

Traffic was light, but there were no road problems due to bad weather on Spaghetti Junction during afternoon rush hour Thursday , Jan. 3, 2001. (T. LEVETTE BAGWELL/STAFF)

Spaghetti Junction, the icon of Atlanta highway traffic, in 2006. (JOHN SPINK/AJC staff)

Time exposure of traffic around the Tom Moreland Interchange (Spaghetti Junction), looking south from the Northcrest Overpass on Tuesday night, May 11, 1999. The far left lanes(oncoming) are the I-285 to I-85 north ramps and I-85 North. The other lanes are I-85 south and ramps from I-85 south and the Northcrest/Pleasantdale entrance ramps to both I-285 and I-85 south. The white line on the top is the oncoming traffic from I-285 East/North Ramp onto I- 85 North. (AJC Staff/KEVIN KEISTER)

011009-ATLANTA-Work continues just south of Hartsfield International Airport on Tuesday afternoon as part of the fifth runway project. This section of the project is west of Riverdale Road and North of I-285. (BEN GRAY/STAFF)

1984 - Eliminating the loop - Construction is nearing the halfway point on the I-75 and I-285 interchange north of Atlanta. The new interchange, which is projected to accommodate 47,800 vehicles daily by the year 2000, will eliminate the clover-leaf loop (left, center of photograph) for drivers going from I-75 south to I-285 east. Motorists will be able to exit past Windy Hill Road, drive over the highways on a new ramp and merge into eastbound I-285.

1/24

Gov. Lester Maddox is up and away through the paper barrier at the opening of I-285 on Oct. 15, 1969. That makes Atlanta's famed circular bypass 47 years old this week. It's been called the deadliest roadway in the U.S., but it has become a symbol of our city and a highway many Atlantans love to hate. (Joe McTyre/AJC staff) CHECK OUT MORE OF OUR FLASHBACK PHOTOS GALLERIES, INCLUDING LOOKS BACK AT MIDTOWN AND CABBAGETOWN IN THE 1970s.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Coca-Cola first ad

PHOTOS: Coca-Cola ads over time

Alonzo Herndon

PHOTOS: Philanthropists leave mark on Atlanta

gainesville, thomas county central

PHOTOS: Thomas County Central pummels Gainesville for 5A state title

jefferson, sandy creek

PHOTOS: Sandy Creek defeats Jefferson for Class 3A championship

More Galleries

the weeknd

PHOTOS: The Weeknd electrifies the crowd at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz stadium

PHOTOS: Beyonce fans saddle up for 4-day Atlanta Cowboy Carter Tour stop

PHOTOS: Beyoncé fans arrive for 4-night Atlanta Cowboy Carter Tour stop

College Park Juneteenth Parade standalone photo

PHOTOS: Juneteenth Parade held in College Park

4th Annual Rick Ross Car Show

PHOTOS: Rapper Rick Ross holds 4th annual car show in Fayetteville