DOT Ready for July 4th Weekend

The Georgia Department of Transportation is preparing for a busy Fourth of July holiday weekend.

DOT officials say they expect very heavy traffic on the highways around the state this weekend.

Spokesperson Annalysce Baker said that as always, the DOT will suspend construction-related lane closures throughout the weekend in an effort to help keep traffic moving in Georgia.

“We are suspending construction-related lane closures starting at 5 a.m. Friday (July 1) and then we will get back on the roads at 5 a.m. Tuesday (July 5), so from Friday through Monday, there will not be any construction,” said Baker.

The DOT said that crews may still work in proximity to highways and safety concerns may require that some long-term lane closures remain in place.

Also, officials said that incident management or emergency maintenance-related lane closures could become necessary at any time on any route.

Baker said people should still use caution on the highways with that in mind.

“There may be cement barrier walls still up,” said Baker. “There may be cones still up, so people will still need to be mindful of the road. Lastly, we need people to stay focused on the road and drive alert, so they can arrive alive whether they go out of town or to a friend’s house.”

The DOT has urged drivers to “DriveAlert ArriveAlive,” by buckling up, staying off the phone and focusing on driving.

Officials also urged people to slow down, allow extra distance between vehicles, read signs, and expect the unexpected.

During the Fourth of July weekend last year, there were 15 traffic fatalities in Georgia, up from 2014.

Meanwhile, Baker said people should plan ahead before heading out by getting real-time traffic information through Georgia’s 511 service.

“We still advise people that even though we are suspending construction-related lane closures, please call 511,” said Baker. “You can call 511 on your phone. You can visit the 511 website, or you can download the 511 app on your phone.”

511 is a free service in Georgia.