I-85 bridge to be open for Monday rush hour commute, probably sooner

May 10,2017

Source: Dave Wickert, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

I-85 in Atlanta will reopen in time for Monday’s morning rush hour commute and probably sooner.

The northbound lanes probably will be open sometime Saturday and the southbound lanes sometime Sunday, Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry said at a press conference Wednesday.

That puts the bridge’s reopening at least a full month ahead of the original June 15 deadline.

"This is a day of celebration,” Gov. Nathan Deal said at the press conference, adding: “It demonstrates the can-do attitude Georgia has."

I-85 has been closed in Buckhead since March 30, when a fire caused the highway to collapse. The fire allegedly was set by a homeless man and spread to construction materials the Georgia Department of Transportation stored under the bridge.