Alternate routes to get you around the I-85 bridge collapse

ATLANTA — Atlanta commuters are having to adjust to life without a stretch of I-85.

On March 30, I-85 northbound collapsed just north of Piedmont Rd. after a spectacular fire. The effects will be felt for months, as I-85 north and southbound remain closed between the Buford Spring Connector and Ga-400. Some progress has been made in the week after the collapse.

[TRAFFIC: Real-time traffic information to help you get around the collapse ]

Here are roads/interchanges that are currently OPEN: 

  • I-75/sb ramp to I-85/nb (Brookwood), but I-85/nb must exit Buford Spring
  • I-75/85/nb ramp to I-85/nb (Brookwood split), but again, I-85/nb must exit Buford Spring
  • I-85/sb ramp to Buford Spring/sb (exit 86), one lane open for local traffic only. Sidney Marcus Blvd. access to Buford Spring/sb will remain closed.
  • Buford Spring/nb is open from Midtown.
  • Ga-400/sb ramps to Sidney Marcus Blvd. and to I-85/nb.
  • Piedmont Road is open in both directions except for one northbound lane.

[PHOTOS: Massive fire causes I-85 bridge to collapse]

Expect many surface streets around the area to be highly congested. A few alternates through the Brookhaven and N. Druid Hills areas are Peachtree Road, Briarcliff Road, & N. Druid Hills Road. Highway 78 also a good alternate to I-85.

If you prefer to stick with interstates, take I-85/sb from Gwinnett County to I-285 south or east at Spaghetti Junction. Stay with that, and use I-20/wb into Downtown Atlanta. I-285 westbound (the Outer Loop) is good across to north side to get to Hartsfield Jackson International Airport.

Triple Team Traffic will deliver alternate routes on Channel 2 Action News and all day long, live on WSB Radio, as traffic conditions change. Please tune to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB.