Gallery: Atlanta's Spaghetti Junction through the years

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Flashback photos: Spaghetti Junction through the years

It's become an icon of Atlanta, the criss-crossing strands of traffic that mark the intersection of I-85 and I-285.

The photographer writes: "I was driving on the Spaghetti Junction overpass like 10 mph and when I reached my vantage point, I was exhilarated. This shot was taken during what supposed to be morning rush hour." Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011. Vino Wong vwong@ajc.com. See more of our Flashback fotos galleries and get a look at Atlanta's past.

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.

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."

Tom Moreland Interchange (I-85/I285 interchange) in 1987. Georgia DOT

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

I-85/I-285 interchange 1973

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

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.

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."

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

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.

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

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)

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

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

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

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)

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.

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

In this photo taken with a fisheye lens over the city's perimeter highway known as "Spaghetti Junction," the ice-covered interstate system shows the remnants of a winter snow storm that slammed the city with over 2 inches of snow that turned highways into parking lots when motorists abandoned their vehicles creating massive traffic jams lasting through, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in Atlanta.

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The photographer writes: "I was driving on the Spaghetti Junction overpass like 10 mph and when I reached my vantage point, I was exhilarated. This shot was taken during what supposed to be morning rush hour." Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011. Vino Wong vwong@ajc.com. See more of our Flashback fotos galleries and get a look at Atlanta's past.

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