Nine Killed on Ga. Highways So Far This Weekend

The Georgia Department of Public Safety is reporting nine traffic fatalities on Georgia highways so far during the Memorial Day holiday travel weekend.

Those fatalities were reported by Georgia State Patrol posts in Calhoun, Cumming, Thomasville, and Albany, where there were two, as well as by authorities in Gordon County, Bibb County, Richmond County, and Houston County.

The Memorial Day holiday travel period began at 6 p.m. Friday and continues through midnight tonight.

Meanwhile, the Georgia Department of Transportation is suspending construction-related lane closures on interstates and major state routes through 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Georgia DOT Spokesperson Teri Pope says, however, that crews may still be working in proximity to highways and safety concerns may require some long-term lane closures to remain in place.

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

The Georgia DOT advises travelers to call 511 for updated information about travel conditions on Georgia’s interstates and state routes.

Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide and is also found online at www.511ga.org.

As another reminder, Stephens County government offices will be closed today for the observance of Memorial Day.

Also, Toccoa City Hall will be closed in observance of Memorial Day today.

In the city of Toccoa, routes for garbage and recycling scheduled to be picked up today will be picked up on Tuesday instead.

The city said commercial garbage will be picked up as usual.

However, yard waste and other items will not be collected.