New kind of interchange opening at North Druid Hills and I-85 this weekend
Construction has wrapped up on a new type of interchange in DeKalb County that will open to drivers this weekend.
The new displaced left turn opens at North Druid Hills and Interstate 85. The new elevated bridge and ramps adds two lanes over the interstate and is the first in metro Atlanta.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Drivers have watched construction clogging things up as more traffic is added from the growth of Brookhaven, nearby Emory and the new Arthur M. Blank Hospital.
'It would help though cause there's a lot of traffic out here…anything will help,' driver Terrell Flinch said.
The displaced left turn allows left-turning traffic from Druid Hills getting onto I-85 to move over the bridge on the roadway without stopping.
The Georgia Department of Transportation says it creates fewer conflict points, less congestion and lowers the risk of crashes.
'So as you're turning left, you have oncoming traffic coming at you. That creates collisions. That creates backup on the bridge for those who are queuing up to take the left. It can sometime extend the bridge through the next signalized intersection,' GDOT spokeswoman Natalie Dale said.
TRENDING STORIES:
NTSB warns of dangerous bridges as part of Key Bridge investigation
Atlanta man held by Taliban for 2 years reunites with his wife in the U.S.
Which restaurant chains are seeing the biggest price increases?
The two traffic signals at two intersections will become one, just further back, as left-turning cars shift to the dedicate lane and cross over before the bridge.
The decision point for drivers to get into the two left-hand turn lanes comes earlier and GDOT says there will be a learning curve.
'But you'll see how seamless it is and how much easier it is to make that transition from westbound to southbound,' Dale said.
GDOT says the displaced left turn should open by 11 a.m. Saturday but one of the workers said it could happen sometime overnight.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Car crash leads to Buckhead water main break
Crews are currently working to repair a water main break while investigators work to learn more about the car crash that caused it. The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management reported a 16-inch water main break on Peachtree Road near Peachtree Park Drive in Buckhead on Saturday morning. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] They say the break happened because of a car crash, but did not comment on how the crash caused the break. Drivers are being told to exercise caution in the area and consider using alternate routes. TRENDING STORIES: 1 dead after overnight double shooting near Atlanta event center Man accused of shooting, killing woman and child inside DeKalb apartment now in custody Officer shot 6 times by YSL gang members says he kept thinking 'I'm not dying out here' There is currently no estimated time for repairs to be complete. It's unclear if businesses in the area are being affected. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
Private companies could shell out billions for new express lanes on GA 400
Over the next couple of weeks, parts of GA 400 will see occasional lane and shoulder closures as the Georgia Department of Transportation sets the stage for future construction on express lanes. The new express lanes, which Channel 2 Action News first told you about in August, will run 16 miles from the North Springs MARTA station into Forsyth County. Two lanes in each direction will run from the North Springs MARTA station to McGinnis Ferry Road, and one lane in each direction will run from McGinnis Ferry to just north of McFarland Parkway. But GDOT tells Channel 2's Michael Doudna says any closures you see in that area for now are part of its planning stages. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'We see about 270,000 cars a day on SR 400, and we know in the future, that's going to be 350,000 a day,' GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry said. Some single lanes have been closed nightly for the last week as workers do Geotech work to plan ahead. Under the current plan, private companies would cover the $4.6 billion construction cost, pay $4 billion to the state and cover maintenance. In exchange, they would get 50 years of the Peach Pass user fees for those lanes. TRENDING STORIES: Manhunt underway after woman, child shot, killed at DeKalb apartment complex 'He's just out there': Grandmother very concerned about Clayton State student missing from hospital The streak of rainy days continues There is no word on how much the private companies expect to make, but the hope from the state is that it can be mutually beneficial for everyone. 'When motorists choose to use the express lane system, then it frees up space in the managed lanes, so it frees up space for all users,' GDOT spokesperson Natalie Dale said. If private companies shell out $8.6 billion for construction and payments to the state, they'll need to get $172 million a year for each of the 50 years they would get Peach Pass fees to recoup their money. The plan calls for construction to begin as early as August and be complete in 2031. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Over 400K driver's license suspensions removed under new Ohio law
Over 400,000 Ohio drivers have had their license suspensions removed under a new Ohio law. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] House Bill 29 was implemented by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles as of May 9. The bill eliminates certain debt-related driver's license suspensions, waives reinstatement fees, and reduces long-standing penalties. It limits the court's authority to impose suspensions for drug offenses with the following exceptions: OVIs and if the offender used a vehicle to facilitate the commission of a drug offense. TRENDING STORIES: Former NFL receiver Antonio Brown sought on attempted murder charge Have you seen her? Police searching for missing 40-year-old woman Road closures expected as almost 600K pound 'superload' moves through Miami Valley The bill also eliminates reinstatement fees for eligible drivers. Over $8 million in fees have been forgiven in the month since the bill was implemented, according to a media release. More information on the bill can be found here. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
