Summer time in the ATL is right around the corner which means that major construction is on the way! According to the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Atlanta Department of Transportation major pavement projects will be happening this summer at the same time.
"This summer we are really having a super-charged paving season. A lot of that is due to the pavement condition that we have," said GDOT spokeswoman Natalie Dale.
Atlanta's interstates are in bad shape; they're even crumbling in certain areas, and pretty much every major interstate in metro Atlanta will be getting resurfaced this summer.
"I-285 on the eastside, on the westside. We have downtown connector paving, I-20 paving, 75, 85, as well as some smaller state routes."
These projects are happening because GDOT and the city both want the roads to be smooth by the time we start welcoming visitors to the city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and other big events.
On the other hand, the city council approved $120 million for downtown resurfacing totaling 25 miles.
While road resurfacing is ultimately a good thing, as these projects will drastically affect traffic. GDOT will work overnight and open lanes during the day, and when it comes to the surface streets, the city work will take place during the day.
Repaving starts at the end of May, but ramps up quickly.
"We peak during those June, July, August months," Dale said. "But this will last into September, October depending on schedule and temperatures."
GDOT encourages drivers to be patient and call 511 for the latest updates.
