GDOT Suspends Lane Closures For July 4th Holiday

CARTERSVILLE, GA — To help ease traffic congested expected for the 4th of July holiday travel period, the Georgia Department of Transportation will suspend lane closures related to construction projects on interstate highways from 5 a.m. July 4th to midnight Thursday, July 5, the agency said.

Lane closures will also be limited on state routes that serve tourist and recreation attractions. You should note that the closures will not apply to the Northwest Corridor Express Lanes project.

“We hope this break in construction work will allow motorists to get to and from their holiday destinations with less congestion and less aggravation,” said Grant Waldrop, assistant district engineer at the DOT office in Cartersville. “We understand that a lot of people are hitting the road for the Independence Day holiday, and we would like to make it a little easier for them to go through northwest Georgia. We also truly hope they will do so cautiously, courteously, and will wear their seat belts.”

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Georgia DOT reminds motorists that crews may still work in proximity to highways and safety concerns may require some long-term lane closures to remain in place. Also, incident management or emergency maintenance-related lane closures could become necessary at any time on any route. Whenever you approach a work zone, please remember to slow down, allow extra distance between vehicles, read signs, obey road crew flaggers and expect the unexpected.

In the event of a traffic accident or vehiclular breakdown, GDOT advises motorists to never get out of the car on a freeway, unless your life is in imminent danger. If possible, pull off the road, turn on your hazard lights and stay in the vehicle with the doors locked.

Of course, when you get behind the wheel, be sure you've done everything necessary to comply with the state's Hands-Free Law, which went into effect July 1. You can get more details about that law, including what you can and cannot do, by clicking here. Drivers should also know that state troopers and local law enforcement officials will be conducting heavy patrols to catch motorists who poses a threat to your ability to get from point A to point B.

For HERO assistance in metro Atlanta, call 511, a free phone service that provides real-time statewide information on Georgia’s interstates and state routes, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures and delays due to inclement weather. Callers can transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.

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