Atlanta road conditions: I-20 reopens after icy crash knocks down power line

CONYERS, Ga. - Both westbound and eastbound lanes of Interstate 20 at Highway 138 in Rockdale County were closed for nearly two hours Friday evening after a motor vehicle accident brought down power lines across the roadway. The crash occurred just after 7 p.m., prompting Conyers Police and power line crews to shut down the affected lanes as they worked to assess the damage and remove the fallen wires. The lanes reopened shortly before 9 p.m.

Power crews worked quickly to move the power line, reopen the interstate, and restore power. Video from the scene showed the power line on the roadway as crews worked to clear it. The incident comes amid icy weather conditions in the region, which prompted precautions earlier in the day. In nearby Conyers, about a four-minute drive from the crash site, officials temporarily blocked off a bridge out of an abundance of caution due to the potential for ice. Bridges can freeze faster than other roadways because of air circulating both above and below the structure.

A local tow truck driver who had been out assisting motorists shared his observations on the day’s events. "Yeah, most people took heed to the caution last night and they stayed at home," he said. "We’ve been out here since around 5 o’clock this morning and we barely saw anybody on the road. Now that the weather has stopped snowing just a little, most people have started coming out, but the majority still stayed in."

While main roads appeared mostly clear by evening, concerns about black ice on side streets persisted. Officials continue to urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel, cautioning that driving in these conditions is not advisable.