Motorists traveling northbound on Interstate 985 can expect to see traffic delays through Oct. 3 as Georgia Department of Transportation crews trim trees along the road.

Trimming trees is part of the DOT’s preventive maintenance work before winter, district spokeswoman Teri Pope said.

“We trim trees to minimize the chances of limbs or entire trees falling into the travel lanes when snow and ice hits this winter,” she said.

Overhanging trees have “prevented sunlight from hitting the roadway and slowed melting of any winter precipitation,” Pope said.

Crews are working 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily between exits 16 and 20.

The DOT hopes to finish trimming trees off the inside shoulder by the end of this week, Pope said.

But once they move to the outside shoulder, crews will close the right lane.