I-285 in Atlanta closes this weekend. Here's how to get around it.

The latest: Weather permitting, all northbound and southbound lanes of I-285 will be closed between the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (Exit 9) and Cascade Road (Exit 7) interchanges between 7pm Friday, May 15, and 5am Monday, May 18.

Catch up quick: Georgia DOT originally scheduled the closure for last weekend, but postponed it due to concerns of inclement weather.

How to navigate this mess: We suggest you avoid I-285 on the west side altogether.

• But if you have to get on the perimeter, southbound traffic will be directed to exit at I-20, and northbound travelers will have to get off at Langford Parkway to access I-75/85.
• Make sure you have plenty of gas and keep a cool head because you'll encounter heavy traffic on the Downtown Connector and major surface streets like Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway.

Context: The closure comes as motorists already have to contend with delays and detours in other parts of Atlanta due to crews working on other road projects ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

The big picture: This weekend's closure is part of the three-phase project to reconstruct I-285 between South Fulton Parkway and Paces Ferry Road.

• Georgia DOT said the rebuild will cost around $370 million.

The bottom line: It's a good weekend to catch up on things you've been putting off at home. But if you're heading out, bookmark the GDOT 511 app to see real-time traffic conditions and updates.