Atlanta commuters should prepare for significant traffic disruptions this weekend as the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) closes a portion of Interstate 285 between Paces Ferry Road and South Cobb Drive for construction. The full‑closure, which began Friday at 7 p.m. and will remain in effect until Monday at 5 a.m., is part of the I‑285 Westside Rebuild Project, where crews are grinding down existing concrete to replace it with new slabs. GDOT officials warned that drivers will be detoured to Interstate 75, the Downtown Connector, and Interstate 20, and that truck drivers using the designated detour will not be ticketed.
“We are rebuilding entire sections of a very, very old interstate,” GDOT spokesperson Natalie Dale said. Local residents expressed frustration, with Brittany Hipps noting she would stay home because of the closure, and Jorge Velasco describing the impact on his airport trips as “a disaster.” The agency emphasized that the weekend‑closure approach shortens the overall project timeline, which is slated to continue through 2028.
In a separate travel‑related incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop on Friday that halted all flights for several hours. The stoppage, attributed to communications issues at regional air‑traffic control centers, forced numerous college sports teams to adjust travel plans. Teams such as Mississippi’s football squad, Utah, Texas, and Tennessee were delayed, with some opting for bus travel. The FAA lifted the ground stop after more than four hours, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said general aviation would be prioritized as flights resumed.
Atlanta‑area fans and families with relatives traveling for weekend games were affected by the flight disruption, though the U.S. national soccer match in Miami proceeded as scheduled because teams were already in town.
What’s next? GDOT’s list of weekend closures shows that, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas weekends, a section of I‑285 will be fully shut down each weekend through the end of the year, with the overall project extending to 2028. Travelers are advised to monitor GDOT updates and plan alternate routes. The FAA has indicated that normal flight operations have resumed, but airlines and travelers should stay alert for any further advisories.
Sources: atlantanewsfirst.com, atlantanewsfirst.com, atlantanewsfirst.com
