The Georgia Department of Transportation announced on May 19 that all interstate lane closures will be suspended during the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend, starting Friday, May 22 at noon through Tuesday, May 26 at 5:00 a.m. The measure is intended to reduce travel delays and improve safety for motorists.
The suspension aims to ease congestion as travelers head to destinations across the state. While most construction-related lane closures will pause, some long-term closures may remain in place for safety reasons and emergency or incident-related closures could still occur.
Georgia DOT advises drivers to stay alert, move over when possible, and reduce speed in work zones—even if crews are not actively present. Increased traffic is expected around tourist areas and on major routes including I-75 near Stockbridge and Macon, I-16 near Savannah, I-85 near Alabama and South Carolina borders, and I-95 in southeast Georgia. The department has also released a detailed forecast outlining peak congestion times on metro Atlanta interstates and surface streets throughout the holiday period.
Peach Pass users are reminded that their passes work in several other states’ express lanes systems including Florida’s SunPass network. Motorists can check PeachPass.com for updates about interoperability with other states’ toll systems. For real-time road conditions or assistance from Highway Emergency Response Operators (HERO) or Coordinated Highway Assistance & Maintenance Program (CHAMP) units—which provide free roadside help—drivers can call 511 or visit www.511ga.org.
Safe driving tips issued by Georgia DOT include driving defensively due to an increase in out-of-town visitors, maintaining safe distances between vehicles, avoiding distractions behind the wheel, ensuring proper use of seat belts especially for children, and following Georgia’s Move Over Law when approaching emergency vehicles stopped on road shoulders.
The Georgia Department of Transportation delivers transportation solutions that support economic development and benefit residents across the state; it employs about 4,000 staff members with an operating budget over $4.5 billion; focuses on developing and maintaining roadways while supporting rail, transit and other programs; operates under the State Transportation Board; serves the entire state through its network; and works with local governments as well as federal agencies to advance transportation efforts according to the official website.
