Seven months after the old Mt. Vernon Highway bridge over I-285 was closed when a truck damaged the structure, a new bridge should open to traffic in April.
According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, crews recently completed pouring concrete for the final bridge deck and utility relocation is in progress.
GDOT expects the new bridge to open to vehicular traffic in late April, weather permitting, according to a press release.
Temporary closures and flagging operations will still be needed on I-285 and Mt. Vernon Highway after the traffic shift is completed.
Construction of the new bridge was accelerated after a tractor-trailer hauling equipment struck the old bridge in late September 2023. The accident made the bridge structurally unsound and forced a permanent closure to all traffic.
The new bridge, which was previously planned and already under construction prior to the incident, replaces the old bridge with a wider structure that will feature multimodal accommodations.
“We are pleased to open the new Mt. Vernon Highway bridge over I-285 in April,” said Georgia DOT Principal in Charge Supriya Kamatkar, according to the release. “This is a major thoroughfare that carries an extensive amount of traffic, which is why crews worked diligently to rectify the closure quickly.”
The Mt. Vernon Highway bridge replacement is part of the I-285 Westbound Auxiliary Lane Extension (P.I. 0017130), which adds a lane on I-285 westbound from Roswell Road to Riverside Drive in Fulton County. The project is scheduled to be substantially completed in Q3 2025.
For project information, visit the project website.
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