I-85 Through Atlanta is Open!

After the widely publicized collapse of I-85 on March 30, the interstate will be back open early next week. The original timetable was for the road to be completed by mid-June, so it is a relief to hear that it will be open so soon. 

About 250,000 vehicles per day utilize I-85, and the collapse has forced other routes to become even more congested. Atlanta already has heavy traffic, and people complain of the gridlock every day. To help deal with the collapse, some employers allowed employees to work from home or change their work schedules to avoid the busiest parts of the day. 

The construction involved rebuilding 700 feet of roadway at the cost of $16.6 million. The money for the rebuild came from the federal government. While initially planned to be finished by mid-June, the project contractor was offered a multi-million dollar incentive to finish early. The contractor will receive 3.1 million dollars for meeting the contract deadlines early. 

Money incentives are great ways to motivate people but will it come at the cost of safety? The Georgia Department of Transportation ensures that accelerated construction does not mean that the structure will be compromised. GDOT stated that they had used accelerated construction techniques before with success but the I-85 project has been the largest project done so far. 

Other states have used accelerated construction techniques before and had success. Just one example is Massachusetts who replaced fourteen bridges over ten weekends in 2011. With construction on other highways in Georgia taking weeks, months, or even years, hopefully, this will be the start of faster construction times in the future. 

Once the stretch reopens and it is proven to be safe, Georgians can breathe a sign of relief and return to their usual routes for work, school, and play. Let's hope something like this does not happen anytime soon. 

If you or a loved one has received a traffic ticket during this time, contact our offices today. Our Atlanta Traffic Ticket Attorneys have decades of experience and will help walk you through the process!