Woodstock drivers found themselves caught in unusually heavy traffic this morning, with significant delays along I-575 and Highway 92, which impacted commuting times and created long backups.
The cause: ongoing paving work, which temporarily reduced multiple lanes and limited ramp access along the busy route.
Just the Facts: Traffic congestion intensified in both directions on I-575 today due to construction closures impacting key ramps and lanes:
• Southbound Lane Closures: The on-ramp from Highway 92 southbound onto I-575 was reduced to a single lane, extending all the way down to the county line.
• Northbound Lane Reductions: One northbound lane was also shut down from Exit 16 (Hwy 140) to Exit 19 (Hwy 20), tightening the roadway and slowing traffic.
• Ramp Closures at Exit 16: All northbound exit and on-ramps at Exit 16 were closed as part of the paving project. These were reopened around 10 a.m.
The Details: The lane and ramp closures are part of a scheduled paving project on I-575 that aims to improve the highway surface. Work began early this morning, with crews setting up equipment and barricades overnight. Drivers coming south on Highway 92 were impacted from the on-ramp, facing immediate lane reductions on I-575 and a longer single-lane merge, which caused slower traffic flow. Northbound drivers were impacted further up the interstate, with a lane closure that required cars to merge, creating bottlenecks.
In Context: I-575 is a major route connecting Woodstock to several parts of the Atlanta metro area, serving thousands of commuters daily. Paving projects, while essential for maintaining safe and smooth roadways, often create traffic bottlenecks. However, the timing of roadwork is often chosen to minimize long-term impacts on drivers, which is why this paving project was done on a Saturday morning.
According to state transportation officials, paving is also scheduled when temperatures allow for proper curing, which is necessary for the longevity of the repairs.
