The southbound access ramp from Interstate 85 to Ga. Highway 74 will not be closed this weekend as originally planned since rain last weekend pushed back the contractor's schedule on the I-85 rehabilitation project.

But weekend motorists should still find a way around the project this weekend, as there will be double lane closures on the southbound lanes of I-85 all the way up to the Hwy. 74 ramp itself, said Karlene Barron of the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The exit ramp itself will be open, but it will be difficult to get to because of the lane closures, Barron indicated.

The same lane closures were in place the weekend of May 27-29, and there were extreme delays for motorists, Barron said. This coming weekend will be no different, she added.

As usual, the lane closures will start around 9 p.m. Friday and last all the way through 5 a.m. Monday so they don't impact commuter traffic. The project is necessary to repair damaged sections of pavement on I-85 between Hwy. 74 and Old National Highway, officials said.

Closing of the southbound ramps, which includes the on-ramp leading from I-85 to Hwy. 74 and the ramp from Hwy. 74 to southbound I-85, is now slated for the weekend of June 17-19. Although it was originally planned for the ramps to be closed two consecutive weekends, that is up in the air at this point, Barron said.

Weekend motorists driving