[11:25 p.m.]:
Train service has been restored between the East Point and Garnett stations, MARTA said in a tweet.
[9:10 p.m.]: The bus bridge has been extended to include Garnett Station, MARTA said in a tweet.
[8:18 p.m.]: The smoke at the Lakewood MARTA station is the result of an electrical fire that made a section of rail inoperable, MARTA spokeswoman Stephany Fisher told AJC.com. Power has been cut to that section of rail.
The bus bridge between the East Point and West End stations will remain active until the rail’s power is restored. The fire has been extinguished.
UPDATE [7:28 p.m.]: A report of smoke shut down the Lakewood MARTA station Wednesday evening, officials said in a tweet. A bus bridge has been set up between the East Point and West End stations.
It’s unclear when the station will reopen.
This incident comes two days after an electrical fire shut down the Peachtree Center station as well as several others.
MORE: MARTA service resumes at Peachtree Center station after electrical fire
ORIGINAL STORY: Traffic is heavy across metro Atlanta, and it's mainly for two different reasons: a planned protest in Midtown and wrecks.
Until 7 p.m., Midtown commuters can expect some delays as a planned protest continues on West Peachtree Street. Protesters are standing in the right lane to protect bicyclists and e-scooter riders as a call to Atlanta officials to develop designated bike lanes.
The action is in response to the latest scooter fatality, which happened last week outside the Arts Center MARTA station.
RELATED: 'Do something!': Passenger recalls moment CobbLinc bus hit e-scooter rider in Midtown
At the same time, nearly every interstate and major freeway is being slowed by some wreck, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
The heaviest delays are in Fulton County, where all but one right lane of I-85 North is blocked by a crash at Camp Creek Parkway.
I-20 in Cobb County is recovering from an eastbound crash at Riverside Parkway, the Traffic Center reported. The crash has been cleared, but delays span back to Thornton Road.
Also in Cobb, police activity has a right lane and shoulder of I-285 South blocked before Hollowell Parkway, the Traffic Center reported. Traffic is jammed back to Buford Highway.
A stalled vehicle on I-75 North in Henry County is causing delays from Jonesboro Road to Bill Gardner Parkway, the Traffic Center reported.
Ga. 400, the Northern Perimeter and the Downtown Connector are also slow, but that’s likely due to the increase in volume from the evening commute.
Wednesday may not be the best July day ever, but with below-average temperatures and dry air, it’s been pretty close.
North Georgia woke up to the coolest temperatures in a month Wednesday morning. Most of the region was in the low to mid-60s to start the day, and the city has hit its expected high of 86 degrees. However, low humidity means it still feels relatively comfortable.
“We’re only three degrees below average, but it’s so much more comfortable than it typically would be in the middle or the end of July,” Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brad Nitz said.
A cold front that brought showers and storms Tuesday is sitting across South Georgia and Florida on Wednesday, Nitz said. It’s keeping all the mugginess at bay.
“It’s going to be here to stay,” Nitz said. “Changes that we’ll have for the days ahead are going to be very gradual.”
The nice July weather will repeat Thursday, he said, with humidity, clouds and storms staying well to the south through the afternoon. Thursday will be warm but not too hot with another 86-degree high in Atlanta, according to the latest forecast.
“The humidity is going to come up for the weekend, and that does mean a little chance of rain,” Channel 2 meteorologist Brian Monahan said.
Isolated showers are 20% likely Saturday and Sunday, but Monahan said temperatures stay comfortable with highs in the mid-80s. He expects most of the rain will stick to South Georgia.
» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.
» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.
» Download The Atlanta Journal-Constitution app for weather alerts on-the-go.
