Atlanta traffic on Interstate 75/85 slowed sharply early Thursday after a pedestrian crash near North Avenue shut down all northbound lanes. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene, and drivers headed into Atlanta faced delays during the morning commute.
By 5:30 a.m., traffic was backing up beyond Freedom Parkway as authorities responded. The shutdown reached the Downtown Connector near North Avenue in Fulton County, and Northside Drive and Moreland Avenue were among the alternate routes drivers could use.
Interstate 75/85 near North Avenue
The crash reportedly happened around 5 a.m. and blocked every northbound lane. At 8 a.m., the closure was still in place, leaving the route into Atlanta heavily congested while responders worked the scene.
Shortly before 9 a.m., all lanes had reopened, but traffic remained heavy in the area. Drivers who were still approaching the closure had to keep moving slowly even after the roadway opened again.
Fulton County closure details
The pedestrian was killed, but officials had not released details about why the person was on the interstate or what vehicle struck them. That left the road reopening clear, but the cause of the crash itself still unresolved in the public record.
For drivers, the immediate choice was to avoid the closed northbound lanes and use Northside Drive or Moreland Avenue if they were already near the backup. The worst delay had already built before sunrise, and the morning commute carried the disruption long after the lanes reopened.
