Georgia DOT announces lane closure suspension, best and worst travel times for July 4th holiday weekend

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) is suspending lane closures on Georgia interstates and state routes for the upcoming July 4th holiday weekend. The suspension will begin at 12 p.m. (noon) on Wednesday, July 3, and continue until 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 7. During this period, construction-related lane closures will be on hold to facilitate smoother travel. However, Georgia DOT urges travelers to remain cautious, as crews may still be working near highways, and some long-term lane closures may still be in place due to safety considerations. Additionally, lane closures for incident management or emergency maintenance may occur at any time on any route.

To avoid delays, motorists are encouraged to plan their trips in advance, especially in areas expected to experience heavy traffic, such as metro Atlanta interstates and major interstates outside the city.

Metro Atlanta interstates:
Historical travel patterns predict typical traffic flow on metro Atlanta interstates leading into the holiday weekend from

• Monday, July 1 through Wednesday, July 3, with moderate congestion expected from 3 to 7 p.m. each day.
• Light to normal traffic is anticipated on the July 4th holiday.
• Post-holiday heavy traffic is expected on Friday, July 5, and Sunday, July 7, particularly between 12 and 8 p.m.
• Moderate post-holiday congestion is anticipated on Saturday, July 6, during the afternoon.

Metro Atlanta surface streets:

• Motorists traveling on metro Atlanta surface streets should anticipate heavier-than-usual trafficfrom midday to evening on both Tuesday, July 2, and Wednesday, July 3. However, Thursday, July 4, and Friday, July 5, are predicted to have normal to lighter-than-normal traffic flows.

The specific surface streets where increased congestion is expected include:

• SR 3 N/Cobb Pkwy
• SR 141 N/Peachtree Rd
• SR 140 NE/Jimmy Carter Blvd
• SR 3 West Central/Northside Dr.
• SR 8 East Central/Ponce De Leon Ave
• SR 42 E/Moreland Ave
• SR 154 SE/Memorial Dr.
• SR 35 S/US Hwy 19

Major interstates outside of metro Atlanta:
Historical July 4th Weekend travel data from the previous holiday weekend for major interstates outside of metro Atlanta have shown the following trends:

• I-20 is expected to have heavy congestion eastbound entering metro Atlanta; light travel westbound exiting the city towards Alabama; and moderate congestion eastbound entering South Carolina.
• I-75 is predicted to have heavy congestion southbound and northbound coming out of Atlanta in Stockbridge.
• I-24 eastbound heavy congestion in Northwest Georgia (near Chattanooga).
• I-16 westbound heavy congestion exiting Savannah and I-16 eastbound heavy congestionentering Savannah.
• I-95 northbound and southbound is expected to see light travel in Savannah.

Express Lanes:
Changes to the Express Lanes schedule are carefully evaluated based on historical data and traffic trends. The orange directions below indicate a deviation from the usual schedule. Please note that the schedules are subject to change according to current traffic needs.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Peachtree Road Race on July 4 also could cause delays. For detailed information on road closures for the Peachtree Road Race, please refer to the official race website. Plan your travels accordingly to ensure a safe and enjoyable July 4th celebration.

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