Live Blog: Atlanta/Decatur Road Conditions Open Thread – Wednesday

OK, so here we go.  Going to try a live blog for the first time since the President’s visit.  Updates will appear below the original post.

Most businesses, schools and government offices/functions around Atlanta are closed since the roads are basically ice this morning.

Here’s a random assortment of pertinent links/info.  Will update as needed.  Please add more in the comments below.

  • Metro Atlanta remains gridlocked.
  • MARTA buses aren’t running.
  • MARTA trains are running but experiencing lengthy delays.
  • Late yesterday, The Decatur Minute posted about ice at N. Candler and Commerce.
  • DeKalb sent out this list of road closures late yesterday.
  • Gwyneth posted this pic of a bus trying to get up Ponce last night.  No wonder buses aren’t running.
  • A pic of stranded folks sleeping in a Home Depot

After the jump, GDOT’s 6a update of passable major roads around Atlanta.  Every major interstate except I-285 seems to be on there.  That doesn’t mean I-285 isn’t still a sheet of ice though.

• Numerous roads throughout the state have at times been temporarily unpassable, including

  • Interstate Highway 75/85 (The Atlanta Downtown Connector) southbound at I-20, at University Avenue and at Fulton Street,
  • Interstate Highway 20 westbound at the Connector,
  • Interstate Highway 85 southbound in Gwinnett County at Hamilton Mill Road,
  • numerous Interstate 75 entrance and exit ramps in Cobb County,
  • north and southbound I-75 in Bartow County at State Route 20,
  • Interstate Highway 575 northbound in Cherokee County at Cumming Highway,
  • Interstate Highway 985 southbound in Hall County at State Route 129,
  • Interstate 75 NB beginning in Monroe County at mile marker 181,
  • Interstate 75 SB between mile markers 199 and 201 in Butts and Lamar Counties,
  • SR 155 at SR 42 in Henry County,
  • Interstate 75 NB near Rumble Road in Monroe County,
  • Interstate Highway 20 westbound in Richmond County,
  • State Route 16 at the Spalding/Coweta counties line,
  • US 78/State Route 10 in Gwinnett County,
  • State Route 141 north and southbound in Gwinnett,
  • State Route 9 north and southbound in Forsyth County,
  • State Route 164 east and westbound in Banks County,
  • State Route 120 eastbound in Haralson County,
  • State Route 61 in Carroll County,
  • State Route 36 near Nelson Drive in Upson County,
  • State Route 49 at State Route 42 in Peach County,
  • State Route 156 east and west bound in Gordon County,
  • portions of State Routes 14, 38 and 92 in Fulton County.
  • Very hazardous conditions also are reported in Gwinnett County at US 78/SR 10 West Park Place into Hugh Howell in DeKalb County and I-85 Collector Distributor ramps,
  • Pleasant Hill Road (Exit 105) to Old Peachtree Road (Exit 109).

Crews are working at all locations but black ice accumulations often result in a corridor having to be temporarily closed multiple times.

29 thoughts on “Live Blog: Atlanta/Decatur Road Conditions Open Thread – Wednesday”


  2. I’ve seen about a dozen cars go by on Commerce in the past hour. A little bit ago, I watched a lady stop her car in the Commerce/W PdL intersection, jump out, run to CVS, realize it was closed, jump back in her car, and drive away. That’s how desolate it is out there.

    Eerie.

    1. I saw a kid ice skating down the middle of W Ponce a few minutes ago..
      A little earlier I saw a a group of 6 or 7 Decatur City workers busy shoveling ice and salting the alley between City Hall and Eddie’s Attic, so at least one sidewalk is safe to walk on.

    1. Victory just posted on Facebook that they’re opening at noon. I expect I’ll see some of you there.

  6. Hubby left for Emory at about 7:15. Solid sheet of ice on Clairmont. the good news is that he only saw about 10 cars total throughout his 3 mile commute.

      1. It may be fairly clear by then. Scott at Coventry looks pavement clear right now. But any patches that didn’t completely melt may refreeze by 7 PM.

  8. My wife works for a large firm located downtown. 28 people slept there in the office last night rather than risk getting stuck on interstates. They were smart. Reports from other fellow employees this morning include several people still stuck on interstates; people who drove for 8 or 9 hours then walked the last few miles; two people who slept in a CVS; one person who slept at her child’s daycare center.

  10. Dancing Goats, Java Monkey, and Kavarna are OPEN!!!!! Just called and they are open! No answer at Starbucks or Chocolate, so far.

  12. Are any of the businesses at Memorial Dr and Columbia open? Kroger, Walmart, or anywhere to buy food?

  14. If someplace is open, please go on foot. Just watched someone spinning tires for about ten minutes on Church Street until a couple of folks pushed them along to get them moving. They made it a ways and then started spinning again.

  16. Someone posted this morning on the WInnona Park listserv that Columbia and Midway are both sheets of ice.

  18. Someone posted this morning on the WInnona Park listserv that Columbia and Midway are both sheets of ice.

  20. The news from the Midway Woods list serv is that trucks are working on Memorial to spread sand and salt but it’s ice for now. Stay off. Abandoned vehicles.

  22. Revolution doughnuts is open and (for once) has no line! Walked along College and Howard between Revolution and Adair Street and both streets are covered with close to an inch of ice in most places. Saw about a dozen cars while out and they seemed to have pretty decent traction. Saw one MARTA bus and it had snow chains.

  24. Saba and Matador in Oakhurst Village were open for dinner last night. Not sure what their plans are for today, though.

  26. Another WP listserv update: “Kirk Road at Avery is a ski slope heading down toward the seminary. It’s a solid sheet of ice with lots of sledding going on. Bring your sleds! Don’t try to drive. It’s impassable heading left onto Kirk from Avery.”

  28. The Emory CCTMA shuttle is running. It seems to be leaving Woodruff Circle on Emory’s campus on the hour, and the Decatur MARTA station on the half hour. Last I heard the plan was to run it until 8 PM tonight.

  34. Baby Kroger is open. There is A LOT ice by the parking garage in front of Baby Kroger so the left lane on Commerce EB in between Church and Chandler is closed. Lots of snow and slush on East Ponce. Please be careful out there!

  36. Baby Kroger definitely open, fairly decently stocked. Sidewalks getting there definitely slickery. Be careful out there, peeps!

  42. Important caveat: I drive a Subaru, which has all-wheel drive. I’ve twice now (early AM today and mid-morning) made the trip from downtown Decatur to Perimeter via Clermont, Peachtree Industrial, Johnson Ferry and Ashford-Dunwoody roads. Very little traffic, with the exception of abandoned cars, no significant problems. You just have to go slow (I probably averaged 25 mph) and avoid doing anything overtly idiotic, like stopping at the bottom of Toco Hill on Clermont.

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