The Georgia Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin at 6 tonight resurfacing a 7.2-mile stretch of Interstate 85 up to the South Carolina state line.

The project, paid for by federal stimulus funding, will begin at Exit 173, or where Ga. 17 crosses I-85 in Franklin County.

One lane will be closed as crews work. The completion date for the project is July 31.

Work will take place 6 p.m. Mondays to 6 a.m. Tuesdays, 6 p.m. Tuesdays to 6 a.m. Wednesdays, 6 p.m. Wednesdays to 6 a.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays to 6 a.m. Saturdays, 6 p.m. Saturdays to 6 a.m. Sundays and 8 p.m. Sundays to 6 a.m. Mondays.

Crews will begin resurfacing the northbound left or inside lane at Ga. 17 and work northward nightly in that lane to the end of the project at the state line.

Then, crews will start work southbound at the state line and work south in the left or inside lane to Ga. 17.

Work then will shift to the northbound side of the interstate in the right or outside lane to the end of the project. Crews will finish by resurfacing the southbound right or outside lane from the state line to Ga. 17.

The estimated cost of the project is $6.1 million, with C.W. Matthews Contracting of Marietta as the contractor.

Officials still caution about traveling on the busy stretch of highway, advising motorists to slow as they approach the work area.

“Some work to guardrail and shoulder repairs will occur during the day, but that won’t (affect) traffic because it will not require a lane closure,” said Todd McDuffie, interim engineer for the Gainesville-based District 1.