If you plan on traveling to or through Atlanta this weekend leave yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going.Thursday, volumes on SR 400 southbound doubled when compared to a normal traffic day. Overall, traffic volumes on interstates in metro Atlanta increased by 29 percent compared to a typical Thursday.
State transportation officials say traffic volumes will continue to rise as Super Bowl weekend unfolds.
Parking is extremely limited in the downtown area, which is creating additional traffic problems, says Esteban Carrillo, Georgia DOT’s Regional Traffic Operations Program supervisor.
“People don’t know where to park when they get to their location so they are just circling the block to try and find parking,” he says. “This has significantly increased traffic congestion in the area.”
Taking advantage of transit – which is highly encouraged – will be essential for event attendees this weekend, especially since parking is limited and the number of expected lane closures will increase over the next three days.
For those who consider all options and still make the choice to drive, the Central Atlanta Progress parking app, at atlanta.com, is a great resource that will help ensure parking is available in desired locations.
“GDOT is strongly encouraging everyone to take advantage of MARTA trains and other public transit as a means of getting into the city,” Carrillo says. “You’ll be able to arrive much closer to your destination than if you arrive by car.”
The following resources can help you plan alternate commutes and in town travel:
MARTA: www.itsmarta.com for MARTA routes and schedules
GRTA: www.grta.org for information on GRTA Xpress routes
Super Bowl Transportation: atlsuperbowl53.com/transportation
GDOT Traffic updates: http://www.dot.ga.gov/DriveSmart/Pages/SpecialEvents.aspx
Officials urge travelers to plan ahead and have alternate routes in mind. Motorists will be alerted of road closures with advance warning signs, detour signs, message boards and closure signs.
Updated 2/2/19@1:35am
