Friday morning I had to report on the second pedestrian fatality on Interstate 285 in the last two weeks.
On Jan. 22, a woman was struck and killed while walking along I-285 near Roswell Road. Friday morning’s incident involved a man who was driving on I-285 near Powers Ferry Road. He got into a crash with another vehicle. While trying to cross the interstate, he was struck and killed.
Both situations were tragic and both required lengthy investigations. What happened on Friday morning however caused fewer traffic delays than the red alert on Jan. 22. Here’s why the delays were less severe:
Day of the week
The incident on Jan. 22 occurred on a Thursday morning. The incident last week occurred on a Friday. Traditionally in Atlanta, the Friday morning commute is one of the lightest (in terms of congestion and overall traffic) while Thursday morning commutes are often the roughest of the week durning morning drive.
Time of the incident
On Jan. 22 the woman that was stuck and killed was discovered on the interstate at around 6:35 a.m. On Friday, the incident was reported at around 4:35 a.m. This timing is significant when it comes to traffic implications. On Jan. 22 the rush hour was well underway. Thousands of commuters were already on the road heading to work or school. When I-285 was shut down that late in the six o’clock hour, drivers already on the interstates did not have much time to alter travel plans or come up with an alternate route.
The crash on Friday morning happened so early during the rush hour, traffic reporters (myself included) were able to get the word out to commuters before they left their homes. Via, television, radio, social media and word of mouth, most drivers should have been aware of the I-285 closure on Friday morning before they even got into their cars. This was a two hour advantage for news agencies to alert commuters as compared to the January crash.
Both incidents closed I-285 for several hours. On Friday, the lanes of 285 were able to be opened after four hours (around 8:30 a.m). On Jan. 22 lanes were reopened after three hours (around 9:30 a.m.). A lot of people are on the roads between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m., the fact that Friday’s investigation ended an hour earlier certainly helped traffic flow.
Location
Friday morning’s crash occurred on the inner loop of I-285 (eastbound) near the New Northside/Powers Ferry exit (exit 22). Basically, it was between I-75 and Ga 400. The incident on January 22nd happened on the outer loop of I-285 (westbound) near Roswell Rd.(exit 25). That is one exit west of Ga 400. As far as morning traffic is concerned, the accident in January was in a much worse location. With all lanes blocked on I-285/wb west of Ga 400 for three hours, the lengthy delays also impacted the ride on Ga 400 and I-85 heading south in from the northern suburbs. In fact, the ramp from 400 to I-285/wb was also closed during the investigation. Traffic during morning drive is typically heavier on the outer loop of I-285 between DeKalb and Fulton counties than it is on the inner loop of I-285 between Cobb and Fulton Counties. That means more people needed to avoid I-285 on January 22nd than on Friday. That meant more delays on the alternate routes which included I-75/85, I-20, Highway 78 and Peachtree Industrial Blvd. On Friday the delays were limited to I-285, I-75 (Cobb County into midtown) and the Downtown Connector.
Type of incident
On Jan. 22 the authorities weren’t exactly sure what had happened. The drivers that struck and killed the woman did not stay on the scene. The police had to try and determine what went on. On Friday, the vehicles involved in both crashes stayed on the scene making it easier for the investigators to recreate the scene.
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