Atlanta’s new I-85 bridge: Is it safe?

Six weeks ago, an elevated highway that carried hundreds of thousands of people a day lay in smoking ruins, and metro Atlanta residents despaired at what surely would be months of punishing commutes.

This morning, motorists are cruising over that section of I-85, which reopened over the weekend, leaving commuters to marvel at what looks like an engineering and construction miracle.

But experts say it’s no miracle. In fact, “accelerated bridge construction” isn’t even unusual. What’s more, it’s perfectly safe and should be used more often, they say.