I-85 in photos: Atlanta's highway from 1951-1997

Things to Do

Flashback photos: I-85 through the years, 1951-1997

It’s frustrated us, made us yell terrible things and caused us to curse its every curve. But where would we be without I-85? Take a look at this all-important thoroughfare through the years.

Cars traveling down I-85 south towards the Atlanta Airport, 1964.

Bumper to bumper traffic on Interstate 85 during vonstruction, June 6, 1982.

Construction at the Mall of Georgia on December 1, 1997, looking from the east over I-85 toward the mall. (AJC Staff Photo/David Tulis) 12/97

Nov., 1951 - Grading is underway for the northeast leg of the Atlanta expressway (Interstate 85). This view was made looking south on the portion between Peachtree Road and Monroe Drive.

1957 - Atlanta, GA -- Expressway repair. City crews are kept regularly busy repairing the fencing and guard rails where accidents have damaged or destroyed them. At present, when accidents damage sections of the chain link fence used on most of the expressway, the city is replacing it with guard rails. (Atlantic Steel plant in background.)

Atlanta, GA - A bulldozer Friday, December 7, 1956 began moving earth behind new right-of-way signs as grading work began on the downtown connector of the city's expressway system east of Peachtree Street and just north of Forrest Avenue (since changed to Ralph McGill Blvd.) (Bill Wilson/AJC staff) 1956

June, 1991 - ATLANTA, GA -- At the end of the line: Georgia 400 will connect with sprawling I-85 near Sidney Marcus Blvd. in the Lindbergh area. The new route is hailed as a timesaver for commuters. (WALT STRICKLIN/AJC staff) 1991

Atlanta, GA - Expressway grading goes on despite the lack of steel. Construction now on the second lap, between Peachtree Road and Monroe Drive. (Frank Tuggle/AJC staff) 1952

Atlanta, GA -- Future site of the underpass at Peachtree Station at Brookwood. Grading is under way for the northeast leg of the expressway. (Staff photo) 1952

Atlanta, GA - (3rd of 3 photos) -- In the distance is the goal: Buford Highway. Foreground shows Lenox Road Bridge under construction. (Van Toole/AJC staff) 1954

Atlanta, GA - Expressway widens Peachtree Road bridge. The lack of steel doesn't halt work at Brookwood Station. (Buddy Colley/AJC staff) 1952

Atlanta, GA - (2nd of 3 photos) - Span crosses Seaboard Railroad and Peachtree Creek. It is the longest bridge (617 feet) on the Northeast leg of the expressway. (Van Toole/AJC staff) 1954

Atlanta, GA - (1st of 3 photos) - Lindbergh Drive bridge built in separate stages. Span with gentle curve has thee of four deck sections completed. (Van Toole/AJC staff) 1954

990505 - DCS IMAGE - LAWRENCEVILLE - Shown in this photo taken on Wednesday, May 5, 1999 is a view of bridge construction on I-85 North, just before the Sugarloaf Parkway exit. This photo is looking south, and was taken from the Sugarloaf Parkway exit ramp. PAM PROUTY/STAFF

Entrance ramp to I-85 northbound from Clairmont Road. Undated file photo, probably mid-1950s.

I-85 construction near Shallowford Road on Feb. 24, 1981.

Construction continues on I-75 & I-85 at the Brookwood Interchange in March 1983..

Atlanta, GA - Every night the lights go on for a 6.3-mile stretch of Interstate 85 - the Northeast Expressway - and the heavy machinery cranks up on a widening and resurfacing project which will take about six weeks. At the present all southbound traffic must squeeze into one lane between the Chamblee-Tucker and Lenox-Cheshire Bridge interchanges from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. (George Clark/AJC staff)

Near the Brookwood area of I-85, construction continues circa 1981.

Atlanta, GA -- Traffic lane change on I-75/85 going north. Photo taken October 4, 1982. (Steve Deal/AJC staff)

Feb. 11, 1972 - Friday afternoon traffic heading out of Atlanta clogs the city's main artery, as seen from the Fifth Street viaduct over Atlanta's Interstate 75-85 connector.

Aug. 18, 1964Aerial view of downtown Atlanta, Ga. interstate system.New stadium construction (top) Georgia State Capitol Building (bottom)

MARTA train glides above traffic on I-85 Monday at Brookwood Interchange on Dec. 8, 1984.

Oct. 1953 - Construction of the northeast leg of the Atlanta Expressway system (I-85), Brookwood to Piedmont Rd.

Oct. 1953 - Atlanta, GA -- Northeast leg of expressway, Brookwood to Piedmont. Stretch nearly two miles long is now being paved. (Dallas Buck/AJC staff)

The view downtown: One-way street network will pair Spring and West Peachtree streets and merge into I-85 northbound. Photo taken Sept. 11, 1981.

With part of city's skyline in the background, construction is set to begin near I-85 in December 1980.

The northbound connector at Brookwood in 1985. (J.C. Lee/AJC staff)

1981 - View looking south at Monroe Drive exit, showing concrete pillars which will loft an elevated highway.

Oct., 1953 - Atlanta, Ga.: - Northeast leg from Piedmont Road to Buford Highway. Strip over a mile long includes bridge across Seaboard Railroad.

Nov. 16, 1962 - Construction of I-85 from Virginia Ave. near the airport looking toward Atlanta.

Oct. 1953 - NORTHEAST ATLANTA EXPRESSWAY LEG NEARS COMPLETION. Paving completed on northbound lane and Peachtree cloverleaf turnoff.

Portion of the expressway from Brookwood Station to Spring Street. (1951)

In June 1969, Officer B. C. Dooley and J.M. Crowe, a State Highway Department engineer, inspect damage to an asphalt barrier on the Northeast Expressway where motorist intent on getting in the southbound lanes have driven through the barricade. The curb, designed to cut off access to I-85 South from Peachtree Street at Brookwood Station, is one of two built under the "free the freeways" plan. The second barrier separates I-20, I-85 traffic at the Capitol interchange.

Nov. 1964 -- Look familiar? It's traffic congestion on Interstates 75 and 85 looking south towards downtown Atlanta. (Note: The Varsity's white-lettered sign is at middle left center of the photo.)

May 4, 1970 - A 'New Jersey' median between Northside Drive and Brookwood on I-75. Special design has held back progress some, one field engineer says. This view: Looking southeast from Northside Drive overpass.

I-85/I-285 interchange 1973

Tom Moreland Interchange looking west down I-285. Interstates 85 and 285 are now connected in DeKalb County by 12 ramps and 14 bridges on 311 acres. The reconstruction has transformed the maddening battle into a mildly entertaining ride. (Nick Arroyo/AJC staff) 1987

An embryonic Spaghetti Junction: Aerial view over the construction of Interstate 85 and Interstate 285, Atlanta, Georgia, September 27, 1961. Photo taken by AJC staffer Floyd Jillson.

I-85 at Druid Hills Road in October 1959. N06-146_01, Tracy O'Neal Photographic Collection, 1923-1975, Photographic Collection. Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University.

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Cars traveling down I-85 south towards the Atlanta Airport, 1964.

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