Published: December 23, 2008 02:20 pm            

Georgia DOT suspends lane closings in NW Georgia for holidays

Submitted by the Georgia Department of Transportation





All scheduled and ongoing construction-related lane closures in Northwest Georgia will be suspended for the Christmas holiday period. The suspension will begin Tuesday, Dec. 23, at noon and continue until 5 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 29. The suspension will resume Wednesday, Dec. 31 ,and end Friday, Jan.2, 2009.

Georgia DOT is advising motorists to expect delays, plan ahead and be patient as they wrap up last minute shopping or visit friends and family during the holidays. Last year 18 people were killed on Georgia’s roads between Dec. 21 and Dec. 28.

“It is always tragic to lose a loved one, but it is particularly difficult during the holidays,” said DOT commissioner Gena Evans. “We want everyone to have a happy and safe holiday.”

“Emergency maintenance work in the case of traffic accidents, and other unpredictable types of transportation incidents could still cause lane closures and/or delays. However, all construction-related lane closures will be suspended in Northwest Georgia. We know that a lot of people will be hitting the road for the holidays and we would like to make it a little easier for them to go through Northwest Georgia,” explained Kent Sager, district engineer at the Georgia DOT office in Cartersville.

Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about this or any other construction project on interstates and state routes. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures and delays due to inclement weather. Callers also can transfer to operators to request help or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.







The Georgia Department of Transportation is committed to providing a safe, seamless and sustainable transportation system that supports Georgia’s economy and is sensitive to both its citizens and its environment. For general information on the Georgia DOT, please visit our website (www.dot.state.ga.us).

        

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