I-285 Full Weekend Closure to Force Atlanta Detours

Drivers on the west side of I-285 should plan around the closure, which runs November 13-16 and detours traffic to I-75, I-85, and I-20.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Home Renovation

Wide photograph of an empty, closed multi-lane interstate at dusk with unmarked concrete barriers and orange cones along freshly reconstructed pavement, tree-lined suburbs in the distance. — Georgia Department of Transportation will close I-285 on Atlanta's westside from 9 p.m. November 13 to 5 a.m. November 16 for a $155 million concrete slab reconstruction, with traffic detoured to I-75, I-85, and I-20. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Georgia Department of Transportation will close lanes and ramps on I-285 from 9 p.m. November 13 to 5 a.m. November 16, 2026, weather permitting, as part of concrete slab reconstruction on the westside of the highway.

Why it matters

Drivers commuting through Atlanta's west and northwest suburbs will face a full weekend closure of I-285 between South Atlanta Road and SR 280/South Cobb Drive, so plans for that stretch should be adjusted now. The work is part of a $155 million rehabilitation of the corridor's aging concrete pavement, which is scheduled for completion in 2029.

The full closure of all I-285 lanes between S. Atlanta Road and SR 280/South Cobb Drive runs November 13 to 16, 2026, weather permitting. Two right lanes are closed in each direction, and the southbound ramp to SR 8/DL Hollowell Parkway and the northbound ramp to South Atlanta Road are shut.

The players

Georgia Department of Transportation

The state agency that builds, maintains, and manages Georgia's interstate and state highway network, including the I-285 corridor.

The details

Crews will work on roadway shoulder lanes, the concrete median, signage, guardrail, and ATMS/ITS systems along the seven-mile stretch. Approaching traffic will be detoured around the full closure via I-75, the I-75/I-85 Connector, and I-20, with roadside signs directing drivers to the route. The project is one of two along the I-285 westside corridor repairing or replacing concrete slabs.

November 13, 2026, 9 p.m.: Lane and ramp closures begin on I-285.
November 16, 2026, 5 a.m.: Lane and ramp closures end on I-285.
2029: Project scheduled for completion.

The Home Front

Highway rehabilitation projects like this one are often funded and scheduled years in advance, and their weekend closures tend to cluster in low-traffic windows. For Atlanta-area homeowners, sustained corridor work can shape commute patterns and nearby traffic for several years.

If your commute or errands use I-285 between South Atlanta Road and SR 280, plan an alternate route for the weekend of November 13 to 16 and allow extra time. Check the project website before you travel, since closures can shift with the weather.

The takeaway

Pave the way for a smoother weekend by mapping the I-75, I-75/I-85 Connector, and I-20 detour before November 13. Save the project website so you can check for weather-related changes before you leave.

What happens next

Closures are scheduled for November 13 to 16, 2026, weather permitting, so check the project information site closer to the date for any schedule changes.