GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — All lanes of Interstate 85 have reopened some 10 hours after a fiery crash involving a fuel tanker that happened Saturday morning.
According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, a 100 foot-by-70 foot section of the northbound lanes of the roadway were severely damaged in the fiery wreck. Initial estimates put repairs continuing up to midnight. But Gwinnett Police later greatly shortened the estimated time - at least for the interstate itself.
Dawson Boulevard was also set to reopen earlier though Cresent Drive was expected to remain closed for roughly eight hours.
In the many hours that the busy interstate was closed, northbound motorists were being diverted off of I-85 at I-285, causing heavy congestion in that area as well.
For those who were still needing to travel, north and south in the area, they had the usual options of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Buford Highway and Lawrenceville Highway.
Fortunately, the emergency repairs for I-85 north were completed just before 6 p.m. as GDOT worked to fix one lane at a time and reopen them to relieve heavy congestion.
Massive fire on I-85 after crash
RELATED HEADLINES |