ATLANTA, GA — Drivers in southwest Fulton County will face a full shutdown of Interstate 285 for part of the final weekend in September while the Georgia Department of Transportation carries out major concrete reconstruction work.
Both directions of the freeway will close between Cascade Road, Exit 7, and State Route 166 and Langford Parkway, Exit 5. The closure is set to begin at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, and continue until 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28.
Closure will remove all lanes between Cascade Road and Langford Parkway
GDOT said the shutdown covers every northbound and southbound lane in the work zone. That means traffic moving through this stretch of I-285 will not be able to pass through during the closure window.
The affected segment sits in southwest Fulton County, a corridor that carries heavy commuter and freight traffic around Atlanta. Officials are warning motorists to expect delays and build extra time into their weekend travel plans.
Because the closure removes access in both directions, drivers may need to choose alternate routes well before reaching the project area. GDOT has not announced a single detour in the release, but it is directing motorists to check traffic conditions in advance.
Crews will mill and grind concrete before slab repairs begin
During the weekend closure, workers are expected to mill and grind the roadway concrete in preparation for repair or replacement of concrete slabs in the project area.
That work is part of a larger effort to rebuild sections of the interstate with new concrete. The roadway operations are designed to get the surface ready for the next phase of construction, rather than simply patching isolated spots.
GDOT said the shutdown gives crews the space and time needed to complete the work safely and efficiently. The agency tied the closure directly to the reconstruction schedule for the Westside Rebuild project.
Part of the $206 million I-285 Westside Rebuild project
The closure is one piece of the ongoing $206 million I-285 Westside Rebuild concrete slab reconstruction project. That work runs from South Fulton Parkway in College Park to Collier Road.
GDOT says the overall project is scheduled for completion in 2029. The Westside Rebuild effort is intended to reconstruct concrete slabs along one of metro Atlanta’s busiest interstate corridors.
By linking the shutdown to the larger project, transportation officials are signaling that motorists should expect periodic disruptions as work continues over multiple years. The weekend closure is one planned phase of that long-term reconstruction effort.
Officials urge drivers to use 511GA and allow more travel time
GDOT is asking drivers to slow down, plan ahead and leave extra time for trips through the area. The agency also recommends using the 511GA app for real-time traffic updates and detour information.
That guidance is especially important for people traveling on Friday evening or early Monday morning, when the closure begins and ends. Any route changes could create delays on nearby roads if drivers are not prepared for the shutdown.
Transportation officials are stressing caution around the work zone and urging motorists to watch for updated traffic information before heading out. The agency says real-time alerts can help drivers avoid unexpected congestion.
Weather or roadway conditions could push the shutdown back
GDOT has not confirmed whether rain or other weather conditions will change the schedule. Officials said the closure could be rescheduled if weather or onsite roadway conditions make it unsafe or inefficient to proceed.
That means the weekend plan is in place, but it is not entirely fixed if conditions on the ground change. The agency has left open the possibility of moving the work to another time if necessary.
For now, the state transportation department is treating Sept. 25 through Sept. 28 as the target window for the full closure. Drivers planning to use I-285 in southwest Fulton County should check for updates before traveling.
