Drivers rolling around Atlanta’s westside this weekend should plan extra time or choose alternate routes.
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) will close a stretch of I-285 traffic between Cascade Road (Exit 7) and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (Exit 9) in Fulton County beginning on Friday at 7 p.m. and lasts until Monday at 5 a.m.
Avoid I-285: Your Mission This Weekend
I-285 Weekend Shutdown: How To Survive on Atlanta Road
GDOT spokesperson Maria Delgado said, “We strongly encourage everyone to leave early, use real-time navigation apps and consider public transit or carpooling where possible.”
I-285 Weekend Shutdown: What Drivers Can Expect:
Detours and Alternate Routes:
- Southbound Traffic: Diverted off at I-20 (Exit 10A) to the I-75/I-85 southbound bypass.
- Northbound and Westbound Traffic: Diverted off at SR 166/Langford Parkway (Exit 5).
- Local Traffic: Expect severe congestion on surrounding surface streets and intersecting routes like I-20, I-75/I-85, and Langford Parkway.
GDOT and Atlanta Police are urging caution in construction zones and reminding drivers that speeding fines double in active work areas. Tow trucks will be stationed nearby for quick clearance of any incidents.MARTA rail and bus service will run on regular holiday schedules with no direct impact from the closure, though riders should check marta.com for any adjusted bus routes near the Perimeter.For live traffic updates, drivers can dial 511, visit gdot.org, or follow
Follow GDOT on social meida and download the Georgia 511 app. The agency says the roadway is scheduled to reopen on time Monday morning barring any weather delays.This is the second in a series of planned I-285 weekend improvements that began last year as part of the multi-year Top End project. GDOT officials say the work is critical for long-term safety and traffic flow around Atlanta’s busiest loop.Mother’s Day travel tips from AtlantaFi:
- Leave for brunch reservations 45–60 minutes earlier than usual.
- Consider restaurants inside the Perimeter or south of I-20 to avoid the closure entirely.
- Have a backup plan — many families are already shifting plans to Saturday instead of Sunday.
Stay with AtlantaFi.com for live updates throughout the weekend. We’ll have traffic cameras, detour maps and on-scene reports as the closure begins tonight. Safe travels, Atlanta — and Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms hitting the road this weekend.
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