Forsyth County Road Near Lake Lanier Closing for Maintenance Work

Buford Dam Road, the narrow stretch of pavement that carries thousands of vehicles across the top of Buford Dam at the southern end of Lake Lanier, will shut down for two consecutive days next week while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes road repairs.

The closure hits during one of the first warm-weather weeks of the spring, when boat trailer traffic on Buford Dam Road typically begins to surge. The Army Corps of Engineers, which owns and maintains the road running along the Forsyth-Gwinnett County line, has directed drivers to use Georgia State Route 20 as the alternate travel route for the duration of the work.

Buford Dam Road is the only crossing over the dam itself, meaning there is no direct parallel route. Drivers accustomed to using it as a connector between the two counties will need to add several miles to their trips. Ga. 20 runs east-west and provides the most practical bypass, though commuters during morning and evening hours should expect added congestion on that corridor.

The Army Corps has closed Buford Dam Road for maintenance in prior years, including for guardrail work and repaving projects, and has consistently identified Ga. 20 as the sole viable detour. Parks with entrances on Buford Dam Road have also been shuttered during past closures; visitors planning lake access through those entry points should confirm current status with the Corps' Mobile District office before heading out.

The full schedule, including daily start and end times for the closure, is available through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Lake Sidney Lanier project office.