Tractor-trailer spills sheets of plywood onto I-20 in Fulton County

Crews worked Tuesday morning to move spilled sheets of plywood from the eastbound lanes of I-20 off to the shoulder. The cleanup blocked multiple right lanes and caused big backups through Fulton and Cobb counties for hours.

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Crews worked Tuesday morning to move spilled sheets of plywood from the eastbound lanes of I-20 off to the shoulder. The cleanup blocked multiple right lanes and caused big backups through Fulton and Cobb counties for hours.

Sheets of plywood spilled all over the eastbound lanes of I-20 just before the Perimeter on Tuesday morning, causing hours of gridlock through Fulton and Cobb counties.

A tractor-trailer hauling the materials lost its load. While cleanup efforts were underway, authorities shut down three right lanes, including both I-285 exit lanes, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

H.E.R.O. unit operators helped with traffic on I-20 near the I-285 North exit on Tuesday. Plywood scattered in the road caused workers to shut down multiple right lanes. They worked to clear the debris throughout the morning. 

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The lanes remained closed for most of the morning rush and did not reopen until 8:30 a.m., the Traffic Center reported.

As a result, many of the secondary roads on the Westside were jammed. Drivers crowded onto U.S. 78, Ga. 6 and the East-West Connector, according to the Traffic Center.

At its worst, the trip from Ga. 92 to I-285 was clocking in at nearly an hour, the Traffic Center reported.

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