All lanes of the I-285 outer loop were shut down on the Westside for hours Wednesday morning after the big rig overturned before Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Southbound traffic was diverted onto Hollowell Parkway, and the ramps from I-20 to I-285 South were also shut down, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
#REDALERT still in place. I-285/sb (Outer Loop) diverted onto Hollowell (exit 12) and I-20 ramps to I-285/sb (exit 51) shut down. Big rig crash at MLK (exit 9). Take Fulton Industrial or Holmes to MLK. #ATLtraffic https://t.co/2hvjWkI3bV pic.twitter.com/Qm6uvevwsy
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) March 20, 2019
The tractor-trailer wrecked around 2 a.m. when a vehicle cut in front of the rig trying to get to the exit, the Traffic Center reported.
Fire crews that responded to the scene spread dirt and sand to sop up the mess.
#REDALERT Overturned ink truck still shuts down I-285/sb (Outer Loop) at MLK (exit 9). #ATLtraffic diverted onto Hollowell (exit 12) AND I-20 ramps to I-285/sb (exit 51) shut down. Go Downtown. https://t.co/2hvjWkI3bV pic.twitter.com/Kvgp8lo8sg
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) March 20, 2019
While the interstate has reopened, delays — and the ink — remain. There are early backups before South Cobb Drive, which is the last chance to exit I-285 before the site of the earlier road blocks, traffic reporter Mark Arum said.
"That stuff is expensive!" - @MarkArum can't believe 40,000 lbs. of PRINTER INK spilled all over I-285 SB at Hollowell Pkwy. Traffic updates every 10 minutes on Channel 2. #ATLTraffic pic.twitter.com/XHwitAaY1G
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) March 20, 2019
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