Numerous spring festivals are on tap this weekend across metro Atlanta, but some of Saturday’s outdoor events could get washed out by strong storms expected across much of the state.
Saturday’s storms could also hamper weekend roadwork, but the rain should clear out by Sunday.
Here’s what you need to know to navigate around planned interstate lane closures and festival crowds:
Delays expected on I-20
The Georgia Department of Transportation is asking motorists to avoid non-essential travel on I-20 this weekend, where several projects are likely to result in delays.
Two eastbound lanes of I-20 will be closed throughout the weekend between Langhorn Street and Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard for bridge joint repairs that will also shut down two westbound lanes between Lee Street and Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard.
Also, two westbound lanes of I-20 will be closed between Fulton Industrial Boulevard and Six Flags Parkway from 9 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday.
Paving in Rockdale County will shut down one westbound lane of I-20 in the area of Ga. 20 from 9 p.m. Friday through 2 p.m. Saturday. That same paving project will also require the closures of the ramp from I-20 westbound to Ga. 20 and the eastbound on and off ramps at Salem Road throughout the weekend.
On the southwest side of I-285, sign structure work will block two northbound lanes of the Perimeter from Camp Creek Parkway to Langford Parkway along with one southbound lane from Cascade Road to Langford Parkway all weekend.
North of there, concrete rehabilitation will block two northbound lanes of I-285 between Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway and Bolton Road, and two southbound lanes between Bolton Road and South Atlanta Road throughout the weekend.
Also on I-285, two northbound lanes will be closed in the area of Northlake Parkway from 7:30 p.m. Friday until 3 p.m. Saturday for sign structure work.
Work on the I-75 Express Lanes will require crews to shift traffic on I-75 southbound from Delk Road to Windy Hill Road from 9 p.m. Friday until 10 a.m. Saturday.
»Click for updated traffic reports throughout the weekend from the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center
Saturday storms could turn severe
All of the planned weekend road closures are weather-permitting, and the forecast for Saturday isn’t very conducive for road work.
Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Karen Minton is forecasting a 100 percent chance of rain Saturday.
“It’s going to be a bumpy ride on Saturday,” Minton said. “We’re looking at showers that are going to begin in the morning and the potential is there for severe storms, and that could occur in the morning hours.”
She said the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center is forecasting the possibility of two rounds of potentially severe weather, Saturday morning and again during the afternoon.
“We get kind of a break from 10 o’clock in the morning until about 3, and then [storms] start to fire again as the front makes its way in from the northwest,” Minton said. “Those storms that do fire in the afternoon, they’ll be scattered in the area, but some may contain hail, damaging winds and you cannot rule out an isolated tornado.”
An “enhanced risk” of severe storms is forecast for extreme north Georgia, the Weather Service said, with the rest of the state under a slight risk of severe weather.
The stormy Saturday should be followed by a mostly sunny Sunday, Minton said.
Highs will be in the mid-70s Saturday and near 80 Sunday, with lows in the upper 50s early Saturday and mid-60s Sunday.
»Check the full forecast and track changes
Festivals galore across metro Atlanta
The Inman Park Festival tops the list of weekend festivals, with the annual parade scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday. The festival continues through Sunday.
In Cobb County, Sunday’s Taste of Marietta in the historic Marietta Square will feature approximately 75 restaurants, caterers and food trucks, while the Smyrna Spring Jonquil Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday on the town’s Village Green.
The Taste and Sound of Woodstock will be held Saturday at the Cherokee County town’s Park at City Center on Arnold Mill Road.
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