The weekend demolition of the Interstate 85 overpass ended just in time for traffic to start flowing through Piedmont Road for the first time since the interstate collapse in a fiery inferno Thursday evening.
At a press conference Monday, Governor Nathan Deal commended the progress crews have made since the collapse.
WATCH: Gov. Deal discusses progress of I-85 recovery
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"I think they're going at a record pace and I'm hoping this is a pace we can continue as we strive to restore and rebuild this important stretch of interstate," the governor said.
Gov. Deal also said there is still a lot more work that will require a lot more funding. He announced his decision to ask the US Transportation Department for additional funds --on top of the $10 million transferred from the feds on Friday. He said it will help expedite the expansion of Marta and Greta services.
Meantime, the head of the Georgia Department of Transportation said investigators are still evaluating the practice of storing tons of construction material under interstate.
"Obviously this is construction material that no one would expect to go up in flames and cause this kind of catastrophe. But nothing is off the table because we want to do what we have to do to keep something like this from happening again, said GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurray.
Georgia Department of Transportation crews have been working around the clock to clear debris and reopen roadways after a massive fire caused a portion of Interstate 85 to collapse last week, crippling traffic in both directions of the busy highway indefinitely.
WATCH: Cleanup continues Monday after I-85 collapse
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Monday morning, state officials invited FOX 5 into the DOT's Management Center where crews monitor cameras placed all over the metro Atlanta area, and give advice to drivers who call 511.
Over the weekend the State reconfigured I-85 northbound near Peachtree, allowing two lanes of traffic to use the Buford Spring Connector. By 7 a.m. Monday, that road was at a gridlock. Officials reminded drivers they should only use the Buford Spring Connector for local traffic.
