The weekend preceding Thanksgiving is chock full of events, wide-ranging weather and road closures, but begins with an ending.
Friday at 11:08 a.m., the tollbooths on Ga. 400 officially closed, 750 AM and 95.5 FM WSB News/Talk Radio is reporting.
Gov. Nathan Deal opted to close the toll plaza ahead of its scheduled 7 p.m. shutdown.
Now, comes the hard part. The Georgia Department of Transportation reports “double lane closure in both directions” on GA 400 at the now-closed tollbooths from 7 p.m. on Friday to noon on Monday as crews install temporary barrier walls.
Rain expected Friday night will bring cooler temperatures, Severe Weather Team 2 meteorologist Karen Minton reports.
“Cold air is on the way,” Minton said. “In fact, when you get up on Sunday morning, freezing (is) everywhere.”
Showers through Friday night into Saturday morning will usher in temperatures in the 40s by the end of the day, she said.
These weather changes will come into play midday as major and minor events begin in downtown Atlanta.
To usher in the holiday season, Centennial Olympic Park opens its ice skating rink Saturday at 10 a.m.
Motorists driving the Downtown Connector on Saturday can expect delays near Georgia Tech as the Yellow Jackets face off against Alabama A&M University at 1:30 p.m. at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa plays the Fox Theatre on Friday and Saturday beginning at 8 p.m.
Saturday evening, the Hawks take on the Boston Celtics, adding to the potential for downtown congestion on the Connector. The game begins at 7:30 at Philips Arena.
Hip-hop upstarts Macklemore & Ryan Lewis perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, with Talib Kweli and Big K.R.I.T. at The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth.
Jazz pianist Kenny Barron tickles the ivories to the accompaniment of The Kenny Barron Trio on Friday evening at Spivey Hall at Clayton State University.
Ice hockey fans can root for the home team when the Gwinnett Gladiators take on the Greenville Road Warriors at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth.
While traveling around metro Atlanta, expect lane closures planned by Georgia DOT:
• Crews will be painting under the I-75 bridge at State Route 120 in Cobb County from 8 p.m. on Friday to 5 p.m., on Monday.
• One east- and westbound right lane will remain closed on Sidney Marcus Boulevard between Georgia 400 and Buford Highway as crews continue to work on bridge construction
• Expect on westbound and one eastbound lane to be closed on I-20 between Windsor Street and Columbia Drive from 8 p.m. on Friday until 6 a.m. on Sunday.
• Overhead sign construction will close one right lane on northbound I-75 from Central Avenue to Mt Paran through the weekend.
About the Author
