All lanes of I-285 reopened overnight after a “road surface collapse” near Langford Parkway prompted emergency repairs Monday afternoon, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Two of the four northbound lanes were closed until about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, when crews completed the initial phase of repairs. More extensive contracted work is expected to be completed at a later date, GDOT officials said.
The road surface issue did not affect the structural integrity of the bridge, officials said. Photos and video from the scene showed a hole about 18 inches wide and 6 feet long in the bridge deck, Channel 2 Action News reported, making it possible to see from the road surface through the bridge and down to the ground below.
It was located at a joint in the road where the concrete appeared to have crumbled.
The hole was first reported to GDOT by a motorist around 1:30 p.m., spokesperson Natalie Dale told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Traffic cameras in the area showed Atlanta police patrol cars and fire trucks blocking all northbound lanes of the interstate earlier in the afternoon. At one point, southbound traffic was also blocked.
I-285 South was reopened around 2:30 p.m. and two northbound lanes were reopened shortly after.
The damage was the result of wear and tear caused by repetitive impacts at the bridge joint, which would require both short- and long-term fixes, Dale said. It will eventually require a routine maintenance contract, which will be coordinated through the State Bridge Maintenance Team.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
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