Traffic up more than 300% on GA highways as Floridians evacuate for Hurricane Milton
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Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton is headed toward Florida as a category 4 hurricane, with some experts are calling it “an extremely dangerous threat.” Georgia’s conditions are expected to be the worst Wednesday and Thursday.
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Highway traffic between Macon and the Florida-Georgia state line is “higher than historical averages” as Floridians seek shelter from Hurricane Milton, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Interstate 75 northbound has seen around 280% more traffic than usual, and Interstate 95 and 16 had 90% higher traffic than normal by Tuesday around 8 a.m., GDOT said.
This traffic is more than four times greater than the interstates’ average traffic.
While there was still heavy traffic Tuesday afternoon, it had slowed down since Monday.
Interstate 75 northbound had over 340% more traffic than usual, and Interstate 95 northbound had around 260% more than normal on Monday.
“The I-75 South Metro Express Lanes south of metro Atlanta will continue to remain open for northbound traffic only through Tuesday to accommodate higher northbound traffic counts from Florida residents heeding local evacuation orders,” the GDOT said in a media release.
Evacuation tips
Drivers can visit www.511ga.org for guidance on evacuation routes.
For free emergency roadside assistance or to report an incident on an interstate, call 511 and request a CHAMP or HERO operator.
RVs and campers are able to park in Georgia State Parks. These motorists were advised to visit gastateparks.org/alerts for updates.
GDOT crews were still removing debris from some roads since the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The agency urged drivers to move over a lane or slow down to make space for response crews.
This story was originally published October 8, 2024 at 4:29 PM.
