Road construction is expected to cause big headaches on a couple of metro Atlanta interstates this weekend and while there is a chance of scattered showers Saturday and Sunday, the rain probably won’t be widespread enough to cancel the road work.
The two big trouble spots will be on I-85 just north of downtown and on the top-end Perimeter, according to the state Department of Transportation.
Three lanes of I-85 in each direction will be closed between Cheshire Bridge Road and Ga. 400 as contractors continue work on a new interchange. However, the closures will be limited to overnight hours, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
On I-285, up to three eastbound lanes will be closed all weekend for bridge work from Riverside Drive to Roswell Road.
“We are expecting there to be a big delay through both locations,” said Shun Pringle, metro district construction engineer for the DOT. “When three lanes are closed on a major interstate near a big city, there is just no way to keep the interstate delay free.”
The chance of rain increases through the weekend, according Channel 2 meteorologist David Chandley’s forecast.
Chandley said there’s a 20 percent chance of scattered showers Saturday, along with highs around 90 and lows in the low 70s. Sunday, the chance of rain goes up to 40 percent, Chandley said. Highs will be in the upper 80s, with lows in the low 70s.
Downtown events this weekend include Saturday’s concert by Kenny Chesney and the Zac Brown Band, which begins at 5 p.m. at the Georgia Dome.
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