The Georgia Department of Transportation will open the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-85 southbound and on State Route 316 westbound beginning late Thursday night with the lanes open by 5:00 a.m. Friday.  

“We are one step closer to getting this great project finished,” said DOT District Engineer Russell McMurry.  “We ask the public to bear with us as we wrap up work on the 85 northbound and 316 eastbound HOV lanes.”

The $147 million interchange reconstruction project, which began in January of 2006, includes two new flyover bridges from SR 316 westbound to I-85 southbound and to Pleasant Hill Road, as well as a congestion relieving collector-distributor system.

“There is still some work to do but we are on schedule,” said McMurry.

The project is slated to be complete at the end of the year.

Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about this project. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, construction, and delays due to bad weather. Callers can also reach live operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org. Georgia 511 – we’ll get you there

The Georgia Department of Transportation is committed to providing a safe, seamless and sustainable transportation system that supports Georgia’s economy and is sensitive to both its citizens and its environment.  For general information on the Georgia DOT, please visit our Web site (www.dot.ga.gov).