As if the daily anticipation of dealing with rush hour traffic wasn’t already a dreadful enough situation, commuters traveling along Atlanta’s I-85 on Thursday evening were left stuck in the middle of a transportation crisis. With traffic backed up for several miles, thousands of people were stuck on the interstate after a massive fire broke out underneath the bridge on the northbound side. With no injuries reported, here’s what we know about yesterday’s chaotic situation.

Taking place on one of America's busiest roadways, around 6:00 pm on Thursday a fire was reported near where I-85 meets Highway 400.
Brad Clinesmith/Flickr
It didn't take long before residents all around Atlanta could see the enormous black clouds of smoke taking over the sky.
Shyamal Patel/YouTube
Around 7:00 pm the bridge collapsed. Luckily, authorities had been able to turn traffic back around before it happened.
KUTV2News/YouTube

Related Stories

This Landmark Diner in Georgia Has Been Around Almost a Century & The Food Is Still That Good

This Landmark Diner in Georgia Has Been Around Almost a Century & The Food Is Still That Good

 The Chapel In Georgia That's Located In The Most Unforgettable Setting

The Chapel In Georgia That's Located In The Most Unforgettable Setting

 The Restaurant In Georgia Built Inside A Historic Castle Is A Dining Experience You Won't Want To Miss

The Restaurant In Georgia Built Inside A Historic Castle Is A Dining Experience You Won't Want To Miss
Governor Nathan Deal declared a State of Emergency for both Atlanta and Fulton County on Thursday night.
Luke Fender/YouTube
Leaving many left to change their daily commutes, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority stated that they will arrange extended services to accommodate the overflow of riders over the upcoming days.
Luke Fender/YouTube
As of now the exact cause of the fire is still unknown, although authorities have stated that they suspect it may have had something to do with the PVC piping that's stored underneath the bridge.
KUTV2News/YouTube
FBI agents have been on the scene doing their best to piece together how exactly the fire started. According to reports, large amounts of PVC piping are kept underneath the bridge and may have possibly ignited. The good news is that so far this does not appear to be linked to any sort of terrorism and zero injuries were reported thanks to the hard work of local authorities.

For now, the entire bridge is compromised and dangerous to be near. Due to the extent of the damage, it will take quite a bit of time before repairs can take place and things can be up and running once again. While the fire was considered to be under control roughly two hours after it began last night, the site is still generating a considerable amount of heat.

To get a glimpse of what the bridge looked like after it collapsed, check out the footage provided by KUTV2News via YouTube below.

Were you able to see Atlanta’s massive fire blazing yesterday? Let us know in the comments section if the unexpected disaster affected your commute home!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore Georgia