Portion of Howell Mill Closed Wednesday

As if traffic congestion on Atlanta’s westside wasn’t bad enough, Wednesday promises to prove extra difficult maneuvering along Howell Mill Road.

Due to a Georgia Power transmission line replacement project, all lanes of Howell Mill will be closed between Huff Road and 17th Street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

Georgia Power will be relocating an existing transmission line along that stretch of road next to the Atlanta Waterworks Reservoir. The work will include replacement of structures, conductor, overhead ground wire, and other hardware as needed.

According to the power company, the use of large cranes and bucket trucks makes it necessary for safety purposes, to close all lanes. There will be uniformed officers on site to assist with traffic control during the construction.

Huff Rd. will be open to traffic on Wednesday, but expect more delays along Northside Drive as officers detour traffic there.

Detour route - northbound traffic:
• Right onto 14th St.
• Left onto Northside Dr.
• Left onto 17th St.
• Back to Howell Mill Rd.

Detour route - southbound traffic:
• Left onto 17th St.
• Right onto Northside Dr.
• Right on 14th St.
• Back to Howell Mill Rd.

For more information, please contact Georgia Power at 404-506-7583.

Even without the transmission line replacement project, this stretch of Howell Mill regularly is snarled with afternoon rush hour traffic, especially northbound from 10th Street to Collier Road.

And it could get worse at the Huff Rd. intersection as Creative Loafing recently reported that an apartment developer has filed city papers in asking for a 5.3-acre parcel on Huff Rd. to be rezoned from industrial to high-density residential. More development could be on the way in an area that could use some real answers to traffic congestion.

Do you avoid Howell Mill Rd. if possible during afternoon rush hour traffic?