Early Friday morning, heavy police activity brought Interstate 85 southbound to a crawl near North Druid Hills Road in Brookhaven, shutting down multiple lanes and turning the pre-dawn commute into a headache. A police bomb squad was visible at the scene, and the ramp to North Druid Hills was closed, forcing drivers onto nearby exits while crews worked along the shoulder. Authorities had not immediately released details.
What happened
As reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, the right-side lanes and the North Druid Hills exit ramp were blocked. The station said four right lanes were affected and urged drivers to use Exit 91 to Clairmont Road or Buford Highway instead. A FOX 5 photojournalist at the scene observed a police bomb squad, though officers had not confirmed any explosive threat at the time. The outlet said it had contacted DeKalb County Police for comment.
Bomb squad response
WSB-TV's Triple Team Traffic reported a slightly different lane count, saying three right lanes were shut down at the North Druid Hills Road exit and that the DeKalb County Police bomb squad had deployed a robot unit. "Triple Team Traffic’s Mike Shields reports three right lanes are shut down at the North Druid Hills Road exit," the station noted, adding that police had not released further information. WSB-TV urged drivers to steer clear of the area while crews remained on scene.
Why it matters
The North Druid Hills interchange has been the focus of a multi-year Georgia Department of Transportation improvement project meant to cut crashes and smooth traffic in the corridor. According to a Georgia Department of Transportation fact sheet, the I‑85/SR‑42 project added new ramps and bridge work and recently reached substantial completion, although crews may still handle overnight punch-list tasks near the interchange.
Driving now
If you are heading southbound through Brookhaven, build in extra time and be ready to use Clairmont Road or Buford Highway as alternates. Check live traffic apps and local news for the latest on lane closures and any updated statements from police.
