Sorority to bring thousands to Atlanta

You may notice lots of pink and green more often than not this weekend.

That’s because more than 22,500 members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will fill Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center for the sorority’s international conference.

It has been more than 35 years since the conference, held every other year, made its way to Atlanta. It was last hosted in Atlanta in 1980, according to the sorority.

“Atlanta was selected as the host site for the conference based on its deep civil rights roots and historical significance to the Sorority,” spokeswoman Leona Dotson said.

The slate of events includes 23 community service activities and a sorority luncheon for college students that will feature Grammy-nominated singer Janelle Monáe.

Festivities will kick off Saturday and wrap up July 16.

View conference events here.

And do check traffic before heading out.

Northwest Corridor Express Lanes

I-75

One southbound lane will close between South Marietta Parkway and Delk Road from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.

Two northbound lanes will close between Windy Hill and Delk roads from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday. The lanes will close again from 9 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday.

One northbound lane will close between Wade Green and Alabama roads from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday.

Drivers will have to reduce their speeds between five and 10 miles as contractors work across interstate lines between Chastain and Alabama roads. The traffic pace will happen on all northbound lanes from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday.

I-575

One southbound lane will close between Barrett Parkway and the I-75 interchange from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday. The lanes close again from 8 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday.

One northbound lane will close between Towne Lake and Ridgewalk parkways from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday. The lane will close again from 9 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday.

I-285

Three westbound ramps will close between Northside Drive and Cumberland Boulevard from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday.

South Metro Express Lanes

I-75

Drivers can expect extended lane closures near Hampton Road all weekend. Two northbound lanes will close between Hampton and Jonesboro roads from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m Monday.

One southbound lane will close between McDonough and Hampton roads from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.

One southbound lane will close between Jodeco/Flippen and Jonesboro roads from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

I-20

Two westbound lanes will close between Hill Street and the Downtown Connector interchange from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.

One eastbound lane and shoulder will close between Fulton Industrial Boulevard and the I-285 interchange from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.

The ramp from Capitol Avenue and Pollard Boulevard to I-20 eastbound will close from 7:30 a.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday. Drivers will take Capitol Avenue south and turn left on Fulton Street where they can continue to I-20 eastbound.

I-285

Up to two westbound lanes will close between Chamblee-Tucker Road and Buford Highway from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday. The lanes will close again from 9 p.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Sunday. The final closure takes place from 9 p.m. Sunday to 5a.m. Monday.

A section of the ramp from I-285 westbound to I-85 northbound will close from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.

Ga. 400

All southbound lanes will close between Holcomb Bridge and Northridge roads from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday for the 8th Annual Ga. 400 Hospitality Highway Bike Ride.

Southbound traffic will detour to Holcomb Bridge westbound, turn left onto Alpharetta Street and make a second left onto Northridge Road and continue to Ga. 400.

Drivers on side roads may run into heavy traffic.

One northbound lane and shoulder will close on the ramp to the North Springs MARTA Station from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

One northbound lane will close between Peachtree and MacFarland parkways from 9 p.m. Friday to noon Monday.

Other state routes

Two southbound lanes will close between I-285 and Briarcliff Road from 8 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m Monday.

Two northbound and two southbound lanes will close along Moreland Avenue between the I-285 interchange and Key Road for deep patching from 8 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday and again from 8 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday.

One northbound lane and one southbound lane will close along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard between North Shallowford Road and Club Drive from 8 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday. The closures will take place again from 8 p.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday.

One eastbound and one westbound lane will close between the Ga. 400 Interchange and Brookhollow Trail from 8 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday. The lanes will close again from 8 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday.

» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.

Hot temps and rain ahead

Temperatures will reach the low 90s this weekend despite rain in the forecast for Sunday, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Highs are expected to reach 93 degrees both Saturday and Sunday.

“As for your Sunday, scattered showers and storms pop back into the picture,” meteorologist Katie Walls said.

There is only a 10 percent chance of showers Saturday.

» Check the full forecast and track changes

Exhibits to hit

The Museum of Design Atlanta opened the "On You: Wearing Technology" exhibit last month. The exhibit, which runs through Oct. 2, looks at how people use technology and the inventors behind the technology.

General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-17.

Pay a little more to see “Gatheround: Stories of Atlanta,” a new permanent display on city history at the Atlanta History Center.

General admission is $16.50 for adults, $13 for seniors and $11 for children ages 4-12.

Happy sipping and nibbling:

Sign up for the Atlanta Brewery Tour and visit SweetWater, Red Brick Brewing Company and Monday Night Brewing this Saturday for 3 to 5 pints at each location.

The $65 cost also includes a small snack and water.