Major Northbound Delays on Downtown Connector and MARTA Rail Service Disruptions This Sunday

Sunday Traffic Overview

Commuters in Atlanta should prepare for a challenging travel day this Sunday, March 8, 2026. Significant infrastructure projects and maintenance operations are impacting several major arteries, particularly on the north side of the city and throughout the Downtown Connector. While Sunday morning may start relatively quiet, major lane closures and public transit adjustments will cause delays throughout the afternoon and evening hours.

Highway and Arterial Roadworks

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has scheduled extensive maintenance and resurfacing projects that will heavily impact interstate travel. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes for the following areas:

• I-75/85 Northbound (Downtown Connector): Expect heavy congestion near Piedmont and Baker Streets, where four right lanes are blocked for ongoing maintenance. Similar closures are reported near Edgewood Avenue, significantly reducing capacity for northbound traffic heading through the heart of the city.
• I-285 Resurfacing: The Perimeter is seeing multiple work zones. On the West side, double lane closures are in effect between Paces Ferry Road and South Cobb Drive. On the South side (mm 0 to 8), crews are working on double left and right lane closures that will persist until early Monday morning.
• I-20 Maintenance: Significant disruptions are reported on I-20 Eastbound at Columbia Drive and Westbound at Wesley Chapel Road, where maintenance operations have previously required all lanes to close intermittently. Drivers should expect forced exits and heavy surface-street volume in these areas.

MARTA Rail and Bus Alerts

Public transit riders face a modified schedule this weekend as MARTA continues its station rehabilitation and system upgrades. Key alerts for Sunday include:

• Rail Single Tracking: All rail lines are operating on a 20-minute single-tracking schedule. On the North/South line, the Southbound platform at Brookhaven is closed, with all boarding occurring on the Northbound side. On the East/West line, Westbound platforms at King Memorial, Georgia State, and Five Points are closed; please use the Eastbound platforms for all trains.
• Red Line Service: Red Line trains are currently only running between North Springs and Lindbergh Center. Passengers traveling further south must transfer to a Gold Line train at Lindbergh.
• Five Points Bus Detours: Major renovations at Five Points Station have triggered detours for several bus routes, including Routes 3, 21, 40, and 42. Riders should check temporary boarding locations on the street level.
• MARTA Reach Launch: Sunday marks the first full weekend of the new MARTA Reach microtransit service. On-demand, curb-to-curb shuttles are now available in 12 designated zones to help bridge the gap for residents in areas with limited traditional bus service.

Event-Related Congestion

Traffic volume will be higher than usual in Midtown and Summerhill due to local events. The High Museum of Art is hosting its "UPS Second Sunday," offering free admission and drawing large crowds to the Peachtree Street corridor between 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Additionally, the "Summerhill Sundays" market and the ongoing Atlanta Science Festival will increase pedestrian and vehicle traffic near Georgia Avenue and Piedmont Park.