Traffic Shifts planned along I-85 Northbound and Southbound at Ridgeway Church Road in Commerce

The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) and its construction partners announce upcoming traffic shifts along Interstate 85 (I-85) northbound and southbound at Ridgeway Church Road in Commerce on Friday, November 17. These shifts mark a milestone in the I-85 Widening, Phase III project with new bridges in place, allowing crews to proceed with demolition and replacement of the old structures. Overnight on Friday, November 17, weather permitting, the existing two lanes of traffic in each direction will shift between Exit 147/State Route 98 and Exit 149/US 441.These traffic shifts facilitate the next phase of I-85 mainline bridge construction over Ridgeway Church Road, which will be performed as nighttime operations. Following these shifts, motorists can expect a similar shift onto the new bridges over the North Oconee River. “This is the first major milestone for the I-85 Widening, Phase III project which has made significant progress across the corridor in recent months,” said Georgia DOT Design-Build Project Manager Iheanachor Njoku. “While there has been active construction in each of the one-mile widening segments, we’re thrilled with the progress seen on the new bridges and are excited to get traffic shifted to continue progress.” The I-85 Widening, Phase III project will improve mobility by widening the interstate from two to three lanes from US 129 to US 441 in Jackson and Banks counties, a heavily traveled corridor. This project will create additional capacity for more reliable travel times and more efficient movement of freight. Motorists should be advised that this work zone is 13 miles long with a reduced speed limit to keep contractors and motorists safe. Additionally, the I-85 Widening, Phase III project sets the stage for the department’s long-range plan to widen I-85 to the South Carolina state line. More information on the I-85 Widening, Phase III project can be found at https://i-85-widening-015245-gdot.hub.arcgis.com/.