DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Drivers now have one week to prepare for part of North Druid Hills to close, bringing a five-mile detour around major bridge work there.
A sign at North Druid Hills Road and Buford Highway warns drivers that the busy street will close on April 26 for 90 days.
Crews will dismantle the 60-year-old bridge over the North Fork Peachtree Creek to build a new bridge that is better able to handle traffic. North Druid Hills Road will close from Buford Highway to Interstate 85 near the new Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta complex.
“I think it’s going to be a disaster,” said commuter Caiheem Fields. “Traffic is already bad in Atlanta and this is going to make it worse.”
Georgia Department of Transportation will instruct drivers to take I-85, Clairmont Road, and Buford Highway instead of North Druid Hills during the 90-day closure. This will undoubtedly put added stress on Buford Highway and Clairmont Road, but GDOT is hoping drivers stick to the recommended detour.
“We don’t want to push undo stress and traffic onto local roads,” said GDOT’s Natalie Dale. “A major state route and an interstate carry more traffic so they can carry more of the congestion.”
For the time being, Caiheem Fields plans to steer clear of North Druid Hills
“More gas, more time getting to and from work,” said Fields. “I won’t go nowhere near it. This is going to be ridiculous.”
GDOT said the 90-day full closure of North Druid Hills Road will allow them to finish the project faster.