The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) will suspend all lane closures on state interstates during the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend. The suspension is scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, August 29, and continue until 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 2. The aim is to ease holiday traffic, reduce delays, and increase safety for motorists. However, some lane closures may remain in place for safety or emergency reasons.
Based on an analysis of Labor Day travel data from 2024, Georgia DOT predicts that metro Atlanta interstates will see typical congestion during the afternoons and early evenings of Wednesday, August 27 and Thursday, August 28. Heavy traffic is also expected on Friday afternoon and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., while lighter conditions are anticipated Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, September 2, moderate post-holiday congestion is likely between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
For surface streets in metro Atlanta, heavy to normal traffic is projected late morning through Friday; lighter conditions are expected over the weekend before heavier traffic returns on Tuesday afternoon.
No changes are expected for the Northwest Corridor Express Lanes schedule over the holiday period.
Outside of metro Atlanta, historical data suggests moderate congestion along I-75 near Stockbridge and northbound/southbound near Chattanooga; light congestion along I-85/I-185 in West Georgia; moderate levels on I-24 near Chattanooga; heavy congestion along I-16 around Savannah; heavy activity around Macon where I-475 intersects with I-75/I-16; moderate volumes on I-75 near Valdosta; light congestion near Northeast Georgia along I-85 close to South Carolina; and moderate traffic northbound/southbound on I-95 in Southeast Georgia near Florida.
Motorists are encouraged by Georgia DOT to use the free 511GA app for planning trips throughout the state with real-time updates on traffic and weather conditions as well as roadside assistance options like HERO (Highway Emergency Response Operators) or CHAMP (Coordinated Highway Assistance and Maintenance Program). These services can be accessed by calling 5-1-1 or visiting 511ga.org.
Georgia DOT offers HERO operators who patrol metro Atlanta roadways providing roadside assistance such as help with flat tires or dead batteries as well as clearing roadways after crashes. CHAMP operators monitor interstates outside metro Atlanta except for I-59 and I-24 offering similar free roadside support.
Motorists are reminded of several safety tips:
“Traffic-related incidents are a leading cause of death for law enforcement officers. Please drive alert, eliminate all distractions and stay focused behind the wheel.”
Under Georgia’s Move Over Law: “Georgia’s Move-Over law requires all motorists to move over one lane, if possible, when there is an emergency vehicle with flashing lights parked on the shoulder of the highway. These include all first responders, utility vehicles, DOT vehicles, HERO and CHAMP units and tow trucks dealing with a crash.
If traffic does not allow you to move over safely, the law requires motorists to slow down below the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop.”
Other recommendations include designating a sober driver if consuming alcohol during festivities; staying inside your vehicle if stopped until help arrives; driving defensively given an influx of out-of-town drivers; inspecting tires/brakes/fluids before travel in summer heat; parking in shaded areas where possible; traveling during cooler hours when feasible; carrying an emergency kit including first aid supplies.
Additional resources available through 511GA include route planning tools (My511), navigation guidance with estimated travel times/speeds, weather forecasts/road condition reports as well as audio alerts via Drive Mode—all aimed at improving trip safety during busy travel periods.
For further information or questions about travel times statewide across Georgia’s highways during Labor Day weekend motorists can call 5-1-1 any time day or night for live assistance.
