Major Lane Blocks on I-75/85 and MARTA Single-Tracking Expected Today
Atlanta Traffic and Commute Overview: Saturday, February 21, 2026
Commuters and weekend travelers in the metro Atlanta area should prepare for significant travel times today, February 21, 2026. A combination of intensive road maintenance on major arteries and scheduled public transit modifications is expected to create bottlenecks throughout the city, particularly along the Downtown Connector and in the airport corridor.
Major Roadwork and Interstate Closures
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has scheduled high-impact maintenance projects for today. Motorists should be aware of the following conditions:
- I-75/85 (Downtown Connector): Expect heavy delays through the heart of the city. Starting at 7:00 a.m. and continuing until 7:00 p.m., thermoplastic installation will result in single and double right lane closures. Specifically, the southbound exits for North Avenue and Williams Street are closed. Northbound lanes near University Avenue and Abernathy Boulevard are also restricted.
- I-285 Paving: On the perimeter, double right lane closures are active for milling and paving operations between mile markers 14 and 18.2. These closures are currently scheduled to impact both eastbound and westbound traffic.
- SR 13 (Peachtree Road): Northbound lanes from Peachtree Street to Monroe Drive are seeing intermittent single-lane closures as crews perform milling work.
- Memorial Drive SE: A full street closure is in effect between Flat Shoals and Wilbur Avenue from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for scheduled maintenance. Local traffic should use Glenwood Avenue as an alternative.
MARTA Rail and Bus Service Alerts
Public transit riders will face increased wait times and platform changes today. MARTA has issued the following alerts:
- Red and Gold Lines: Both lines are operating on a 20-minute single-tracking schedule throughout the day. Riders should allow for at least 15 to 20 minutes of additional travel time when heading toward Buckhead or North Springs.
- Five Points Station: The East-West center platform remains open for Southbound transfers ONLY. Passengers needing Northbound transfers or looking to exit the station must use the right-hand side platform in the direction of travel.
- Bus Delays: Route 21 (Memorial Drive) is experiencing significant reroutes and delays due to the aforementioned closure on Memorial Drive SE.
Airport and Special Event Travel
Travelers heading to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport should leave at least 90 minutes earlier than usual. The airport is reporting a high volume of flight disruptions today, which is causing heavy congestion on I-85 Northbound near Virginia Avenue. While Atlanta United FC is playing away this weekend, local traffic remains dense around the Mercedes-Benz Stadium area due to ongoing utility work near the I-20/I-285 West Interchange.