As thousands of Georgians head out this weekend to celebrate the unofficial end of summer, they won’t be alone.
AAA predicts Labor Day travel will be up 9% compared to last year. The Federal Transportation Safety Administration is preparing to test more than 17 million people as the Labor Day travel period is expected to be the busiest on record, the agency said in a news release.
To prevent major traffic congestion over the Labor Day weekend, the Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) will suspend lane closures on most interstates and state highways starting at noon Friday.
The suspension will last until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, September 3rd.
The Department of Transportation released a seven-day traffic forecast for metro Atlanta. Forecasters say traffic is expected to be heavy on Friday, August 30, and Saturday, August 31, as travelers leave the city. The Department of Transportation expects lighter traffic on Sunday, September 1, and Monday, September 2.
“Construction-related lane closures are suspended, but officials advise travelers to be aware that crews may continue working near the highway and extended lane closures may continue due to safety concerns,” the Department of Transportation said in a news release. “In addition, accident management, emergency and maintenance-related lane closures may be necessary at any time on any route.”
Travel data analytics company INRIX has released a list of the best and worst times to travel, with those who can leave before noon and after 7pm on Fridays having the best chance of a less stressful trip.
High visibility patrol
The Georgia Department of Public Safety announced that officers will be conducting high-visibility patrols on interstates and secondary roads throughout the holiday weekend.
Last year, 26 people were killed on Georgia roads over the long Labor Day holiday weekend.
“We want everyone to get to their destination safely and we ask all drivers to do their part to keep our roads safe. If you experience a problem while traveling in Georgia, don’t hesitate to call GSP,” said Georgia Public Safety Commissioner Col. William Hitchens III.
Hitchens said the Georgia State Police (GSP) and the Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD) will focus on seat belt violations, speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving and other dangerous driving behaviors that often lead to crashes.
The 78-hour holiday travel period begins on Friday, August 30th at 6pm and ends on Monday, September 2nd at 11:59pm.
