DOT, Law Enforcement Ready for Holiday Weekend

Local and state officials are getting ready for a busy Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Lots of drivers are expected to hit the road and Georgia Department of Transportation Spokesperson Teri Pope said that the DOT is doing what it can to make travel as smooth as possible.

“Beginning (this) morning and lasting all the way through 10 p.m. Sunday, there will be no construction-related lane closures on Interstates and major state routes allowed across the state,” said Pope.

Pope noted that lane closures may be necessary for emergency purposes or because of traffic accidents that might occur.

Also, she said that though the lanes will be open, construction zones will still be visible and people need to take note of that.

“We do want you to think about, if you are going somewhere you have not been in a couple of years, that we do have a lot of construction projects underway throughout the state,” said Pope. “There will be some traffic shifts in place, some detours in place. There will be equipment and construction barrels across the state in the work zone. The work zones are not going away, there just will not be any lane closures, so please pay attention.”

Meanwhile, law enforcement officials are also urging drivers to use caution this holiday.

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said people need to be careful and stay alert when traveling this weekend.

“You always have to continuously watch for other drivers,” said Shirley. “Other drivers get distracted.”

Local law enforcement will partner with state law enforcement on the highways throughout the holiday weekend.

Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Director Harris Blackwood said one of the big things law enforcement across Georgia will be looking for is for people to be using their seat belts.

“Last year, of our fatalities that occurred, 60 percent of them did not have a seat belt on and that is just too many folks,” said Blackwood. “We want folks to go and enjoy their time with family and friends during Thanksgiving and when they do one of the most proactive things they can do is buckle up that seat belt and make sure children under the age of 8 are in a proper child safety seat. Officers are going to be looking for that.”

Drivers are encouraged to call 511 for free, real-time traffic information in Georgia this weekend.