After a smooth morning commute, metro Atlantans sat through evening traffic without a bridge and with more accidents.
But things could improve Tuesday with Mayor Kasim Reed’s executive order temporarily suspending routine construction work.
“Temporarily suspending construction activities during reconstruction of Interstate 85 makes sense and is the right decision to help ease traffic congestion,” Reed said in a release. “While our partners at GDOT do the essential work of rebuilding the I-85 bridge, we are taking multiple measures to ensure people can make it to work or school on time, and can enjoy their time in our city.”
Road work is suspended from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Read our minute-by-minute updates below:
6:50 p.m.: A wreck on I-75 northbound before Chastain Road has traffic slowed as far back as I-575, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
6:30 p.m.: Delays on both sides of the Buford-Spring Connector are being reported, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. Two lanes are also reportedly blocked on I-85 southbound at Chamblee-Tucker Road.
6:02 p.m.: To relieve Atlantans of the traffic woes they face during the I-85 bridge reconstruction, Mayor Kasim Reed issued an executive order to temporarily suspend routine construction work.
“The City is working in close collaboration with GDOT to implement multiple strategies to mitigate traffic congestion and preserve access for first responders and to hospitals,” spokeswoman Jenna Garland said in a release.
The order suspends work between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the Impact Mitigation Corridor, which extends from downtown Atlanta to the northern city limits, east to Moreland Avenue and west to Northside Drive, she said. No new construction permits will be accepted before April 17.
5:49 p.m.: All lanes of I-20 stalled before Langhorn Street while HERO units move a crash.
5:29 p.m.: A Sandy Springs crash near Ga. 400 northbound is cleared, but delays remain.
5:18 p.m.: Traffic in Midtown and Buckhead is moving but slowly, Atlanta police said.
UPDATE [5:05 p.m.]: All lanes on I-75 northbound before Northside Drive were blocked to clear a crash.
ORIGINAL STORY: You could be sitting for a while during your afternoon commute Monday.
After a relatively smooth morning commute, drivers in the metro area can expect delays on Peachtree Road, Piedmont Road and Northside Drive on their way home.
The worst interstate spots are the inner and outer loops of I-285 between Ga. 400 and I-85, WSB Radio's Mark Arum said.
But traffic was typical for the weekday, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation. Officials said Monday’s morning traffic on I-85 between Ga. 316 and I-285 increased by 18 percent, but travel times were relatively the same.
Congestion also started much earlier than normal.
The clogged streets are a slight contrast to last week, which benefited from metro schools’ spring break.
And as the traffic jams returned, so did the delays.
A crash in the right flex lane on Ga. 400 northbound at the North Springs MARTA station is causing delays back to I-285, according to the WSB 24-Hour Traffic Center.
— Please return to AJC.com for traffic updates.
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