The Georgia Department of Transportation plans to open Interstate 985 northbound lanes over Ga. 53/Mundy Mill Road and the new northbound exit ramp to Ga. 13/Atlanta Highway on Tuesday.

I-985 north was shifted over to southbound lanes on Oct. 16 so crews could rebuild the bridge.

"Southbound traffic will not be shifted back yet," said Teri Pope, a DOT spokeswoman. "There’s more work to do. We’ve got to do
some striping."

Pope has said DOT officials expect the $75 million interstate project, which also involves widening Mundy Mill Road and Atlanta Highway, to be finished by Labor Day.

Overnight paving on Mundy Mill Road is ongoing, as crews are adding the top layer of asphalt to the road and striping new asphalt. Work is taking place 7 p.m.-6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.

As paving finishes, three lanes will be opened in each direction of Mundy Mill.

Two new and longer left turn lanes from Mundy Mill east to I-985 north will open.

One of the new, longer left-turn lanes from Mundy Mill west to I-985 south will open as well. The second left turn lane from Mundy Mill west to I-985 south will open after I-985 south traffic is shifted back to its original location this summer.

Once paving is complete on Mundy Mill, crews will turn their attention to Atlanta Highway, using a similar schedule.

The goal is to have all paving completed and all lanes open on both roads before Hall County schools start the new academic year on Aug. 10.

Also, crews are building and paving shoulders and repairing barrier walls on I-985 south, closing the left or inside lane between the Elachee Bridge and Mundy Mill Road. That work is taking place 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. weekdays.

The work is expected to take about a month. Crews then will work northbound in the same area doing the same work.

Delays are expected throughout the work zones.

The DOT is advising motorists to abide by posted speed limits. Oakwood police will be in the area.