All lanes of I-285 will shut down in both directions between South Atlanta Road and South Cobb Drive starting Friday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m.

The Georgia Department of Transportation announced the full closure Oct. 12. The shutdown spans exits 15 and 16 in the cities of Atlanta and Smyrna and is expected to last through 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19, weather permitting.

GDOT said all traffic approaching the closure will be detoured onto I-75, the I-75/I-85 Connector and I-20. Roadside and overhead signs will direct drivers to the detour route during the weekend.

The agency urged motorists to allow significant additional travel time or plan alternate routes in advance. GDOT also recommended the 511GA app for real-time traffic conditions and lane closure updates.

Part of a $155.2 million rebuild

The closure is part of the I-285 Westside Rebuild, a $155.2 million concrete slab reconstruction project stretching from Collier Drive in Fulton County to Paces Ferry Road in Cobb County, according to GDOT's announcement. Crews will mill and grind roadway concrete to repair or replace slabs through the project area. The work also includes improvements to shoulders, the concrete median, guardrails, signage and traffic management systems.

GDOT expects the project to be finished in 2029. Rough Draft Atlanta reported in August that more than 40 full closures across different sections are planned over the project's lifespan.

Previous closure canceled

GDOT had originally scheduled a full closure of the same segment for Oct. 9-12 but canceled it because of a forecast of heavy rain, the Cobb County Courier reported.

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul flagged the recurring disruptions in a July 29 Facebook post about the broader rebuild project. "Avoid that area," Paul said at the time. "This will be an ongoing issue for several months."