The Construction on I-85 and the Gas Line on I-20
Work has begun after the massive fire in March that damaged Interstate 85 (I-85)—a major artery in Atlanta. Three northbound and three southbound sections—a total of 700 feet of road—must be replaced. The consequences of the fire have created a logistical nightmare for locals and tourists alike, given that on average, nearly 250,000 commuters drive that portion of the highway every day. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal said that the repair process will be arduous, partially because the bridge beams must be “cast, poured, tested, transported and individually installed.”
Officials expect that repairs will take up to several months. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has committed to re-opening the bridge by June 15 of this year and most recently, its commissioner, Russell McMurry, has claimed that it will reopen before Memorial Day—May 29. Georgia is not shouldering these massive repair costs alone. The federal government has dedicated $10 million towards the cost of repairs. The most recent update is that I-85 will be open for the morning commute on Monday, May 15th.
The main road closures include:
- I-85 South at the Ga. 400 northbound ramp
- 400 southbound is closed at Sidney Marcus Blvd.
- Vehicles are forced off of the Downtown Connector onto I-75 North at the Brookwood split
- I-75 South traffic cannot take the ramp to the I-85 North exit
- Vehicles cannot access I-85 South from Chamblee Tucker, Shallowford, Clairmont, or North Druid Hills roads
Local officials have recommended that commuters opt for public transportation. For more information, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) hosts a progress update on I-85 construction every Monday at 3 pm. You can also find updates on the progress on GDOT’s site.
Buckling of I-20
Adding to the I-85 fiasco is the buckling of Interstate 20 (I-20). On April 17, just last month, you can see from this video that fissures suddenly formed on I-20—up to a height of three feet. Initially, the DeKalb County Police Department claimed that an underground gas leak had been to blame for the buckling of westbound I-20. Later, though, it was revealed that work crews had been pumping concrete into old gas lines that were no longer in use under the freeway. This action somehow caused a buildup of air pressure, which then forced the ground under I-20 to buckle.
Unfortunately, one motorcycle rider was severely injured by the buckling. DeKalb County Fire Rescue officials said that a motorcycle driver riding on I-20 at the time crashed into a large fissure and was launched off the bike, into the air. The rider’s motorcycle fell approximately 200 feet from where the highway fissure was located. The rider was hospitalized in critical condition.
Your Personal Injury Case
Just like the motorcyclist on I-20 who was tossed off his bike by the fissure caused by the pumping of concrete into old gas lines, construction activity can cause accidents that severely injure others. If you have suffered personal injuries in an accident caused by another person’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Typical motorcycle or car accident injuries include:
- head and brain trauma (traumatic brain injury, also known as TBI)
- burns
- broken or fractured bones
- internal damage
- spinal cord trauma
- paralysis
- lacerations or cuts
If you or a loved one has been hurt in an accident caused by the negligence of another person—whether a motorcycle accident or a vehicle accident in a construction zone—you may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries. To schedule a consultation to discuss your case with an experienced personal injury attorney, call Williams Elleby Howard & Easter LLC now at 833 – LEGALGA.
Sources:
David Wickert and Ana Santos, How the I-85 Closure Will Affect Your Commute, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, last updated 26 April 2017, https://www.ajc.com/news/local/how-the-closure-will-affect-your-commute/NdIt3EfGiquILjD6OJ1a1M/.
Georgia DOT to Host Weekly Status Update on I-85 Progress, Georgia Department of Transportation, 17 April 2017, https://www.dot.ga.gov/PartnerSmart/Public/PressReleases/I-85Closure-WeeklyStatusUpdate-4-17-17.pdf.
I-85 Rebuild, Georgia Department of Transportation, https://www.dot.ga.gov/BS/Projects/SpecialProjects/I85Bridge.
Kristen Reed, GDOT: I-85 Bridge to Reopen by Memorial Day, WXIA, 1 Mary 2017, https://www.11alive.com/traffic/i-85-collapse/live-gdot-updates-on-the-progress-of-the-i-85-bridge-construction/435654171.
Lauren Foreman, Alan Judd, and Raisa Habersham, 3 in Custody in Connection with I-85 Fire, Bridge Collapse, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 31 March 2017, https://www.ajc.com/news/traffic/custody-connection-with-fire-bridge-collapse/jq8EM2L0D3AIzyfYNIRS3O/.
Section of Freeway in Atlanta Buckles, Launching Motorcycle Rider Into Air, KTLA 5, 17 April 2017, https://ktla.com/2017/04/17/section-of-atlanta-interstate-buckles-launching-motorcycle-rider-into-air/.
Raw: Another Major Atlanta Highway Closes, AP News, published 17 April 2017, found on YouTube.
