With only a slight chance of rain expected Saturday in metro Atlanta, road construction will likely be in full swing this weekend, blocking lanes and jamming interstates.
Several areas will be prime trouble spots as road crews take advantage of the favorable weather.
Up to three lanes of the Downtown Connector in each direction will be closed near I-20 until 5 a.m. Monday.
In DeKalb County, the right lane of I-20 eastbound between Columbia Drive and Panola Road will be shut down all weekend.
In that same general area, the ramps from I-285 north and southbound to I-20 eastbound will be completely blocked until 5 a.m. Monday.
The usual roadwork on the top end of the Perimeter will have a right lane in each direction shut down between Paces Ferry and Ashford Dunwoody roads. The ramp from I-285 eastbound to Ga. 400 north and southbound will also be closed.
Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Karen Minton said the chance of rain is 20 percent Saturday, and 40 percent Sunday and Monday.
Minton is predicting highs of 85 on Saturday and 84 on Sunday, with overnight lows in the upper 60s. Atlanta’s normal high is 87, the normal low 70.
If there’s a bright spot in the dark cloud of traffic-clogging roadwork, it’s that the Atlanta Braves are out of town, so there will be no pregame and postgame jams on the interstates and surface streets surrounding Turner Field.
Baseball fans won’t be left out this weekend, though, as the Gwinnett Braves play a weekend series against Syracuse at Coolray Field.
Concerts this weekend include the Rascals on Saturday night at Cobb Energy Centre, Pat Benatar on Sunday night at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and Brad Paisley on Sunday night at Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood.
Other weekend events include the Atlanta Summer Beer Fest from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Masquerade Music Park.
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