The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Holiday travelers, shoppers fill metro roads, airport
A record 107.3 million Americans expected to travel, AAA estimates.
If you’re leaving metro Atlanta for Christmas weekend — and even if you aren’t — be ready for some challenges.
A record 107.3 million Americans are expected to travel by car, airline or other mode during the holiday period that technically begins today and runs through New Year’s Day, according to AAA estimates.
But many people still haven’t finished their shopping, so expect clogged roads at home, too.
“The areas to avoid won’t necessarily be the interstates, but the surface streets around major mall regions,” said Ashley Frasca, traffic reporter for News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB.
“To preserve safety in those areas, look out for pedestrians. And when you’re first in the intersection at a traffic light, don’t block the box.”
Frasca said volume on holiday weekends usually is heavier on the south side on I-75 through Henry County. To help traffic flow, the Georgia Department of Transportation is reversing the South Metro Express Lanes to flow south only from tonight until Tuesday morning.
GDOT also has suspended construction-related road closures on interstates, heavily traveled state routes and roads near major shopping centers, malls and tourist attractions. The suspension ends at 10 p.m. Tuesday.
Meanwhile, at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, travelers filled the terminal on Friday, one of the busiest days of the travel season.
In the wake of Sunday’s massive power outage that led to hundreds of flight cancellations last weekend, the world’s busiest airport was back to normal operations.
Tuesday, Dec. 26, will be one of the busiest days of the 21-day holiday travel period, according to industry group Airlines for America.
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve are expected to be the lightest upcoming travel days of the holiday season.