DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Department of Transportation put a new detour in place Tuesday and it’s going to last more than half of the year.
The Miller Road Overpass will be closed for the next eight months as part of the larger I-20/I-285 East Interchange Project.
“It’s going to be a headache for drivers to reroute during that time, but it’s going to expedite the overall enhancements and get the new bridge done faster,” Kyle Collins with GDOT told Channel 2′s Eryn Rogers.
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Collins said closing Miller Road decreased the construction timing of the project from 16 months to 8 months.
Crews will be replacing the existing bridge with a larger, wider bridge that will help support the added lane on I-20.
GDOT said around 9,000 drivers on average travel Miller Road annually.
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That traffic helped Dr. Secora Lambert who owns Lambert Chiropractic and Wellness Center on Miller Road in Stonecrest.
“I always receive walk-ins at this location,” Lambert said.
She said she’s had her business in that location for nearly a decade, and now, she’s concerned the next eight months might impact her business.
“I usually have a lot of traffic right in front of the office, so now I’m coming up with a new strategy to make sure I’m still visible to the community,” Lambert said.
GDOT put a two-mile detour in place. Drivers can use Panola Road and Panola Industrial Boulevard to navigate around the closure that is crucial to the success of the interchange project.
“It’s one of the worst bottlenecks in the country, on that top 25 list, unfortunately, and this is part of our improvements to get it off that list and make it safer,” Collins said.
He said GDOT has worked with the city and county. They’re monitoring the detour and even improving the traffic signal timing at the intersections that will see more traffic. Collins said the new overpass will be more than just a road project.
“Once it’s done, it’s going to be taller, Collins said. “It’s going to be wider, and it’s going to have enhanced bike and pedestrian facilities.”
The improvements are welcomed news for Lambert and her business.
“I actually have a rehab facility in the back, so hopefully, I can incorporate that walking trail in the community and getting more citizens involved in the wellness program here,” Lambert said.
GDOT said the entire Interchange Project is slated to be completed by fall 2026.
However, by late spring or early summer this year, GDOT said drivers will see the first new flyover bridge going from 285 Southbound onto 20 East open for travel.
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