Westbound Section of I-20 in Atlanta Buckles, Almost Kills Motorcyclist
Part of I-20 to the east of downtown Atlanta will remain closed until at least Tuesday afternoon.
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Atlanta, you can't catch a break. First, part of I-85 burns to the ground. Overnight, part of I-75/85 was temporarily closed due to an accident and chemical spill. Even without all this, traffic in and around the city is an absolute nightmare. Now, a westbound section of I-20 just to the east of downtown has buckled and will be closed until at least Tuesday afternoon.
On Monday morning, part of I-20 buckled and rose up just as motorcyclist happened upon the spot. The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported that the rider was launched into the air and suffered multiple fractures. Thankfully, he was not hit by any cars during the accident. Several motorists stopped to help. The motorcyclist was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.
The damage to the interstate seems to have been caused by some work being done to old gas lines that run under the road. Crews were reportedly pumping concrete into old, unused gas lines. Unexpectedly, a build-up of air occurred in the line, creating uplift in the soil below I-20. The pocket of air forced the sections of roadway to crack and rise several feet.
Officials are working to have two or three lanes opened by around 5:00 pm on Monday. They are expecting the repair to be completed in full by Tuesday afternoon. The Georgia Department of Transportation is urging drivers to take alternate routes until the work is complete.
Atlanta, maybe y'all should just stay home for a few days, just in case.
