If you’re sitting in traffic on 285 west right now, you probably don’t need me to tell you it’s a mess. Honestly, the "Top End" of the Perimeter has a special way of ruining a Saturday morning. Between the bridge painting near Roswell Road and the maintenance crews out near Bolton Road, the westbound lanes are basically a test of human patience.
It's January 17, 2026. The weather is crisp, but the pavement is crowded. Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) crews are everywhere.
The Current Choke Points on I-285 Westbound
Right now, the biggest headache for anyone heading toward the west side is a bridge painting project. GDOT has a single right lane and the right shoulder closed between Roswell Road and Riverside Drive in Sandy Springs. This isn't a quick fix—this project (ID: 0017130) has been creeping along since January 12 and is scheduled to keep lanes restricted until Monday morning.
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But wait, there's more.
Further down the line, specifically between MLK Jr. Drive and Bolton Road, you've got maintenance crews doing "graffiti cover-up" and general upkeep. This is a pacing operation. That basically means HERO units and state troopers are slowing everyone down to a crawl so workers can safely cross the lanes or set up equipment. If you feel like the flow of traffic just stopped for no reason near mile marker 13, that’s exactly why.
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Then there is the stalled vehicle issue. Earlier this morning, a car gave up the ghost on the exit ramp to Roswell Road (Exit 25). Even when these are cleared, the "rubbernecking" effect in Atlanta is real. People slow down to look, and on a road as tightly packed as 285, that creates a ripple effect that can stretch back for miles.
Why the Perimeter Always Feels Broken
We talk about the "Perimeter" like it's one road, but it's really a collection of high-stress zones.
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The I-285/I-20 West Interchange project is a massive, multi-year beast that is currently in a very active phase. GDOT just pushed out a newsletter in late 2025 detailing how the lane shifts near the Fulton County line are designed to eventually make things better, but for now, they just make things confusing. When you combine those permanent construction barriers with a temporary lane closure for painting or a minor fender bender, the system just breaks.
- The Bridge Work: Most of the current westbound delays are centered around Sandy Springs.
- The Pacing: Maintenance between mile markers 9 and 13 is creating "stop-and-go" waves.
- The Exit Ramps: Congestion at Exit 25 is spilling back into the travel lanes.
I’ve spent a lot of time looking at how Atlanta’s traffic patterns have shifted since the 2024-2025 expansion projects started. It's a "no-win" situation for GDOT. They can’t fix the road without closing lanes, but closing lanes on a Saturday—traditionally a high-volume shopping and travel day—infuriates everyone.
Practical Advice for Navigating the Mess
If you are stuck in traffic on 285 west right now, or planning to head out, check the 511 GA app first. It sounds like a cliché, but their live cameras are the only way to see if a "pacing operation" has turned into a total standstill.
I’d honestly suggest jumping off 285 and taking the surface roads if you’re trying to get from Dunwoody over toward the Battery or Smyrna. Use Johnson Ferry Road or even Abernathy to bypass the Roswell Road bridge work. It might feel slower because of the stoplights, but at least you’re moving.
If you’re coming from the east side (DeKalb County), the I-285/I-20 East Interchange project is also throwing off some weird vibes today with lane closures near Panola Road. Basically, the whole south-to-west arc is under pressure.
What you can do immediately:
- Avoid the right lane: Between Roswell Road and Riverside Drive, that lane is a dead end.
- Watch for HERO units: If you see the yellow trucks, a pacing operation is likely starting.
- Check the side-streets: Use Waze or Google Maps to see if the Northside Drive/Powers Ferry area is clear enough to use as a bypass.
The bridge painting in Sandy Springs is supposed to wrap up the current phase by 6:00 AM Monday. Until then, the westbound side is going to be a gamble. Pack your patience, or better yet, stay off the Top End until later this evening when the maintenance crews pack it in.