WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao will be in Atlanta on Thursday to participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly reopened I-85 bridge.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer made the announcement during his Monday press briefing.
"Secretary Chao kicked off Infrastructure Week with an event with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Monday morning, noting the newly reopened I-85 bridge in Atlanta as an example of what can be better accomplished with federal, state and local governments working together," Spicer said. "Secretary Chao will be traveling to Atlanta on Thursday for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting."
Weeks ahead of its originally projected schedule, the I-85 bridge reopened in time for Atlanta’s Monday morning, May 15 commute.
The bridge was closed for more than 40 days after it caught fire and collapsed several weeks ago.
Original estimates by the Georgia Department of Transportation had the bridge reopening by June 15. As round-the-clock construction and repairs continued, the bridge’s revised repair deadline moved to Memorial Day.
Several Cheshire Bridge Road businesses are offering special deals next week to make up for lost revenue.
Cheshire Bridge Road was among Midtown’s most heavily impacted local thoroughfare from the bridge collapse.
The man accused of setting the fire that caused the bridge's collapse, Basil Eleby, goes on trial next month.
Eleby is charged with first-degree arson and criminal damage to property in the March 30 incident. Authorities accuse Eleby of putting a chair on top of a shopping cart and setting it on fire while smoking crack cocaine.
