Filming and Major Roadworks to Impact Mid-Day Atlanta Commute

Filming Reroutes on Whitehall Street Today

Commuters heading through the downtown area should prepare for significant reroutes today, Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Production for the project titled "HAL" is scheduled to take place on Whitehall Street from McDaniel Street to Forsyth Street. As a result, MARTA has issued a reroute advisory for Route #40 (Peachtree Street/Downtown). The closures and associated bus reroutes are expected to be in effect from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. If your morning or lunch-hour travels typically involve this corridor, consider utilizing alternate North-South routes like Piedmont Avenue or Ted Turner Drive to avoid localized congestion.

Active Infrastructure Projects and Lane Closures

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) continues several multi-year infrastructure renovations that will affect drive times today. On Spring Street (State Route 9), lane closures remain in effect between Peachtree Street and 17th Street. This work, which includes repurposing a southbound lane for a new bike lane and upgrading ADA-compliant sidewalks, is scheduled daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Motorists should anticipate intermittent lane shifts and potential delays near the Arts Center area.

Furthermore, major construction activity persists at the I-285 and I-20 West interchange. This $1.3 billion project is currently in a phase involving heavy lifting for skyway development and bridge replacements. While many of the most disruptive picks occur during off-peak hours, the presence of heavy machinery and narrow lanes means that commuters should maintain extra caution and reduced speeds when navigating the western side of the Perimeter.

MARTA Service Alerts and Station Maintenance

Public transit riders should take note of several facility updates across the MARTA system. The East-West center platform at Five Points Station has seen recent adjustments, with specific instructions for southbound transfers. While some early morning alerts were scheduled to expire at 6:00 a.m., passengers should still look for updated signage regarding platform access. In addition, several escalator and elevator maintenance projects are currently underway:

• Arts Center: Escalator 5 is out of service for ongoing renovation.
• Kensington: Elevator 1 (platform to concourse) is currently undergoing repairs; riders are advised to use the 119 bus bridge from Indian Creek if accessibility is required.
• Lenox and Lindbergh Center: Multiple escalators are offline for scheduled maintenance and repair.

Traffic Bottlenecks and Legislative Updates

A new report released this week by the American Transportation Research Institute has once again placed Atlanta's interchanges among the most congested in the nation. Commuters are advised to expect the heaviest bumper-to-bumper traffic at the I-285 at I-85 North interchange and the I-75 at I-285 North interchange. These areas remain top priorities for state planners. Meanwhile, local lawmakers are preparing to revisit HB809, which proposes an increase in the minimum highway speed limit to 50 mph, in a rescheduled hearing this Friday.