The Georgia Department of Transportation may close a lane of traffic on Interstate 985 this week to continue work on the Exit 16 project.

"Crews will close the left or inside lane of I-985 North for about a mile starting at Mundy Mill Road to just north of Atlanta Highway," DOT District Engineer Russell McMurry said. "Crews will be off-loading materials for the new Atlanta Highway Bridge over the interstate.

"The lane will be closed as needed on weekdays only from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for about the next month, as weather permits. This closure won’t be in place every day but will happen several times per week. Please, remember to slow down through the area as conditions change daily."

The speed limit on I-985 within the construction project limits, north of the Elachee Bridge to about one mile south of Exit 16, has been lowered to 60 miles per hour. Fines are doubled in DOT work zones.

The overall projected completion date is Feb. 10, 2010, and its construction cost is more than $74.6 million.

Also, work on revamping Exit 22 on I-985 in Gainesville will close one lane on the ramp this week.

Lane closures are set to resume today if weather permits, according to Russell McMurry, DOT district engineer. This morning, crews will close from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the right turn lane on the exit ramp from I-985 North to U.S. 129 East. McMurry said the work should take about two days. He said motorists will be able to turn right from the left-turn lane.

This interchange reconstruction project includes the construction of dual left-turn lanes and adding traffic signals.

The overall projected completion date is July 31 and its construction cost is more than $1.64 million.