Hurricane Irene is expected to have no effect on metro Atlanta, where the forecast for the weekend is for sunny skies and hot temperatures – perfect conditions for another round of interstate-clogging road construction.
Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Karen Minton said Friday that the hurricane’s effect on Georgia will be limited to the coast, where strong rip tides, rain squalls and gusty winds could occur.
Minton’s forecast for metro Atlanta calls for sunny skies through Sunday, with highs in the mid- to upper 90s on Friday, mid-90s on Saturday and low 90s on Sunday.
Weekend repaving projects will close lanes on numerous interstates around town.
In DeKalb County, the three right lanes of I-285 eastbound will be closed from Peachtree Industrial Boulevard to Chamblee Tucker Road from 9 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday. Motorists can also expect entrance and exit ramps along that stretch of the Perimeter to be closed at various times throughout the weekend.
In addition, the Spaghetti Junction ramp from I-85 southbound to I-285 westbound and the ramp from I-85 northbound to I-285 eastbound will be blocked from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Saturday.
In Fulton and Clayton counties, paving on I-75 will block multiple lanes between University Avenue and the airport area throughout the weekend.
Also on I-75, the two left lanes in each direction will be blocked by construction between Northside Drive and the Brookwood Interchange, beginning at 9 p.m. on Friday and continuing through 5 a.m. on Monday.
In Douglas County, eastbound traffic on I-20 between Chapel Hill Road and Ga. 6 will be stopped several times between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. on Saturday for utility work.
The Braves are in New York this weekend, but Cirque du Soleil is expected to draw large crowds downtown with shows at Philips Arena at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday.
About the Author
