Holiday Travel Alert: Georgia DOT Suspends Lane Closures, Shares Key Travel Windows

To accommodate the anticipated increase in holiday travel, the Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) will temporarily halt lane closures on interstates, major state routes, and roadways near key shopping areas, malls, and retail districts. This suspension will be in effect from 5 a.m. Monday, December 23, 2024, through 10 p.m. Sunday, January 5, 2025.

Although construction-related lane closures will be on hold, drivers should remain alert as maintenance crews may still be active near highways. Additionally, some long-term closures may remain in place for safety reasons. It’s also important to note that lane closures for emergencies, incidents, or essential maintenance could occur at any time on any route.

Outlined below are the anticipated best and worst travel times for the Christmas and New Year’s holiday. These projections are based on historical traffic data from previous holiday seasons. Georgia DOT urges travelers to plan ahead and exercise caution on the roads throughout the holiday season.

Christmas: December 23 – December 29

• Metro Atlanta Interstates:
  • Moderate-to-heavy traffic are expected on metro Atlanta interstates between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, and Tuesday, Dec. 24.
  • Lighter than usual traffic is expected on interstates from Wednesday, Dec. 25, through Sunday, Dec. 29.
• Metro Atlanta Surface Streets:
  • Heavy traffic Heavier-than-usual traffic is expected to begin on the morning of Thursday, Dec. 19, and continue into the afternoon on Monday, Dec. 23.
  • Heaviest traffic volumes are anticipated on Thursday, Dec. 19, and Friday, Dec. 20.
  • Light traffic is expected on metro Atlanta surface streets on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, making these good days to travel.
  • Lighter-than-normal traffic is anticipated on metro Atlanta surface streets on Saturday, Dec. 28, and Sunday, Dec. 29.

New Year’s: December 30, 2024 – January 5, 2025

• Peach Pass Usage Updates:
  • Peach Pass is accepted at the express lane systems in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. Additional states are expected to be added to the Peach Pass system by Winter 2024.
  • Current interoperability is set with Florida’s SunPass, E-Pass, and LeeWay. It is also interoperable with North Carolina’s QuickPass.
  • Users coming from accepted states into Georgia can utilize their pass on the Georgia Express Lanes.

Safe Driving Tips: If you find yourself traveling this Christmas or New Year holiday, do so safely with these best practices in mind:

• Make sure your vehicle is winter-ready:
  • Prepare a winter-ready kit for your vehicle, including essentials such as blankets, a flashlight, gloves, and provisions like food and water.
  • Before embarking on your journey, inspect the condition of your tires to ensure they are suitable for winter driving.
• Leverage 511GA Travel Services: Prepare for your journey by utilizing the comprehensive travel services offered by 511GA. Visit 511ga.org or download the free 511 Georgia app for:
  • Turn-by-turn navigation, estimated travel times, and real-time travel speeds.
  • Travel forecasts and real-time road conditions to ensure a safe arrival at your destination.
  • Stay updated on the current direction of the Express Lanes.
  • Access traffic cameras along your drive to stay informed about current road conditions and events.

Call 511 to speak with a live operator 24/7/365. Your safety and convenience are our top priorities. For up-to-date information about travel conditions on Georgia’s interstates and state routes, call 511 or visit www.511ga.org before heading out. 511 is a free service that provides real-time statewide information on Georgia’s interstates and state routes, including traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures and delays due to inclement weather 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Callers can also transfer to operators to request HERO assistance in metro Atlanta or CHAMP service on highways in other regions of the state.

Georgia Department of Transportation plans, constructs and maintains Georgia’s state and federal highways. We’re involved in bridge, waterway, public transit, rail, general aviation, bike and pedestrian programs. And we help local governments maintain their roads. Georgia DOT and its nearly 4,000 employees are committed to delivering a transportation system focused on innovation, safety, sustainability and mobility. The Department’s vision is to boost Georgia’s competitiveness through leadership in transportation.