Gridlock Alert: Major Delays Downtown for Science Festival and I-75/85 Closures
Saturday Traffic Outlook: Significant Delays Expected
Atlanta commuters and visitors should prepare for a challenging travel day this Saturday, March 7, 2026. A combination of major construction projects on the downtown Connector and a surge of spring events is expected to cause heavy congestion throughout the metro area. Local drivers are encouraged to use navigation apps and consider public transit where possible to avoid the most impacted corridors.
Major Roadwork and Interstate Closures
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has scheduled several high-impact maintenance projects for the weekend. Most notably, motorists should expect rolling closures on I-75/85 (The Connector) in both directions between University Avenue and 17th Street. These closures are for thermoplastic installation and will be most active during the overnight and early morning hours, but residual delays are expected to persist throughout the day.
On the south side, the I-75 South Metro Express Lanes will remain closed for maintenance until 11:30 AM. Once they reopen, the lanes will initially run in the southbound direction until approximately 6:00 PM to accommodate outbound afternoon traffic, before switching to northbound operations. Additionally, the massive reconstruction of the I-285 Westside Corridor continues to impact travel between Cobb and Fulton counties with various lane shifts and shoulder closures.
Downtown Event Alert: Science Festival and 5K Run
Traffic in the downtown core will be particularly dense due to the kickoff of the Atlanta Science Festival. With over 100 events starting today across the city, the area around Centennial Olympic Park and Piedmont Park will see heavy pedestrian and vehicular activity. Furthermore, the Georgia Aquarium 5K took place earlier this morning, and while the race concludes by 11:00 AM, heavy cleanup and dispersed crowds near Pemberton Place will likely affect surface street movement until the early afternoon.
Transit Updates: MARTA Reach Launch
For those looking to bypass the highway gridlock, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) officially launches its MARTA Reach on-demand service today. This new point-to-point shuttle service is now active in 12 zones, including West Atlanta, Kirkwood, East Point, and North Fulton. Riders can enjoy free trips on this service through March 28.
For rail users, MARTA is operating on a special weekend schedule to accommodate maintenance. Travelers on the Red and Gold lines should check for specific platform announcements as some single-tracking may be necessary between North Springs and the Airport. Major concerts tonight at State Farm Arena and the Coca-Cola Roxy are expected to draw large crowds, so transit remains the most reliable option for reaching these venues on time.