DOT Suspends Construction Lane Closures for New Year’s

The Georgia Department of Transportation is once again trying to do its part to make the roadways a little safer this holiday.

Georgia DOT Spokesperson Teri Pope said that the DOT will suspend construction-related lane closures on the state’s interstates and major state routes for the New Year’s holiday.

“For New Year’s week, road closures will be suspended between 5 a.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Saturday,” said Pope. “We will be out of your way. No road work, but there could be emergency repair lane closures or if there is a crash, but there will not be any construction lane closures.”

While there will not be lane closures, Pope does caution motorists that barrels and cones will still be up and work zone equipment will still be out there.

As a result, she said the DOT urges caution on the highways for those headed out.

“There are still going to be orange barrels on 17 in the construction project,” said Pope. “There are still going to be lane shifts, so if you are going somewhere you do not typically travel, slow down and pay attention because even if we are not working, a work zone can be dangerous just because it is different.”

Pope said motorists can get free, real-time traffic information throughout the state of Georgia by using the state’s 511 service.

She says motorists can either call 5-1-1, which is free to do throughout Georgia, or motorists can go online to www.511ga.org or use the state’s free 511 app.