GDOT To Suspend Lane Closures

The Georgia Department of Transportation announced that all scheduled and ongoing construction-related lane closures in northwest Georgia would be suspended for the Christmas holiday period. The suspension will begin at 5 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 23, and continue until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27.

With Christmas Day falling on a Sunday, the Georgia DOT anticipates more travelers than usual during the holiday week and weekend. Motorists should expect congestion near malls and retail centers throughout the week.

“We anticipate heavy traffic throughout the metro Atlanta area beginning early Friday morning,” Georgia DOT Commissioner Keith Golden said. “Mall and retail center traffic will be particularly congested. Additionally, many travelers will be returning home over the weekend.”

“Emergency maintenance work in the case of traffic accidents, and other unpredictable types of transportation incidents could still cause lane closures and/or delays. However, all construction-related lane closures will be suspended in Northwest Georgia,” said Kent Sager, district engineer at the Georgia DOT office in Cartersville. “We know that a lot of people will be hitting the road for the holidays, and we would like to make it a little easier for them to go through northwest Georgia.”

Drivers can access real-time, statewide, route-specific information on accidents, roadwork, traffic, and weather conditions through Georgia 511—a free phone, web and mobile service. By dialing 511, callers also can transfer to operators 24 hours a day to report incidents or request assistance. The system can be used to access transit providers, major airports, rideshare organizations, tourism information and 511 systems in surrounding states. Additionally, 511 is available online or as a hybrid solution via a free download for your smart phone.

You can follow Georgia DOT on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaDOT) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/gadeptoftrans).