Planning a trip over Labor Day weekend? Here are the best times to leave, return
The official end of summer fun is approaching and as Maconites begin preparing for Labor Day weekend, here are the best and worst times to travel, according to the state’s transportation department.
“This year, we anticipate traffic volumes will be closer to what we experienced in 2019 as Georgians head out on the roads this Labor Day weekend,” said Andrew Heath, Georgia DOT’s state traffic engineer. “With this heavier traffic in mind, we encourage travelers to plan their trips ahead, practice safe driving behaviors and most of all enjoy their holiday weekend as safely as possible.”
Construction-related lane closures will also impact traffic from noon Friday, Sept. 3 through 5 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7. The closures should be limited on major state routes that directly serve key tourist and recreation centers, according to GDOT.
The five-day traffic forecast for metro Atlanta
This Labor Day weekend (Friday, Sept. 3- Tuesday, Sept. 7), the TMC forecasts a boost in congestion in and around metro Atlanta interstates with the heaviest traffic on Friday, Sept. 3, starting as early as noon.
Sunday, Sept. 5, and Monday, Sept. 6 (Labor Day) are predicted to have lighter than usual traffic.
On Tuesday, Sept. 7, traffic is expected to increase to normal weekday commute travel times with a slightly staggered morning rush as motorists are later getting back on the interstate.
If you are planning to travel this upcoming holiday weekend, below are a few tips and insights on what to expect on metro Atlanta interstates and how to protect yourself as well as others on the road should an incident occur.
Labor Day Road Races
On Monday, several Macon roads will be temporarily affected by the Labor Day Road Races. At around 7 a.m. all traffic headed into town on Vineville Avenue will be blocked, according to a press release from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.
The 5K road race will begin at 7:30 a.m. The traffic going out of town on Vineville Avenue will be diverted at Hines Terrace to facilitate the 5K road race.
The 10K will begin at 8 a.m., at the Run Fit Sports, located on Forsyth Road. The outside lane of Forsyth Road, Vineville Avenue, all the way to the Forsyth Street and at the DT Walton Sr. Way intersection will be affected during the road race.
The roads will continue to be blocked until all participants have cleared those areas. There will be intermittent traffic control at all of the intersections listed below.
Order of Traffic
- Forsyth Road to Vineville Avenue
- Vineville Avenue to Forsyth Street
- Forsyth Street to DT Walton Sr.Way (behind city hall)
- DT Walton to Popular Street
- Popular Street to First Street
- First Street to Cherry Street
- Cherry Street to Cotton Avenue
- Cotton Avenue to Second Street
- Second Street to Walnut Street
- Walnut Street to Seventh Street
- Seventh Street into Central City Park
Everything should be open by 11:00 a.m.
The GDOT even curated a list of tips for those planning to travel this weekend. Here’s some advice for traveling like a pro:
Looking for the shortest travel times this holiday weekend? Data shows the quickest routes estimated are from the couch to your fridge.
If you do have to travel this holiday weekend, keep these timeframes in mind before hitting metro Atlanta interstates:
The best time for travel on weekends is typically early, before 10 a.m.
The busiest time to travel is typically 3-6 p.m. when drivers leave the city.
If traveling in or around metro Atlanta on Friday, Sept. 3, plan to add 30 minutes to your travel time due to increased congestion.
Consider using Georgia 511 to navigate safely and efficiently to your destination if you plan to drive out of town for Labor Day weekend.
Visit 511ga.org, download the free Georgia 511 app for turn-by-turn navigation and estimated travel times, and real-time travel speeds. Call 511 to speak with a live operator.
This story was originally published September 3, 2021 at 2:35 PM.