Lane closures in Southwest Georgia suspended over Easter weekend

ALBANY — Good news for youngsters expecting gifts from the Easter bunny this weekend — he won’t be held up by having to hop through closed lanes at road construction.

Officials with the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Tifton district office say that construction closures for the long Easter weekend will be suspended beginning at midnight Thursday and continuing until midnight Sunday in the 31-county Southwest Georgia District that includes metro Albany. GDOT officials did note, however, that the order does not affect lanes that were permanently closed or closed for long-term periods before today.

GDOT officials said they were implementing the lane closure restriction “to offset increased traffic due to the holiday and students who may be returning from or going to spring break destinations.”

But while lanes will be open, motorists should remain alert when traveling through work zones. Transportation officials say work crews may still be working close to highways and state routes during the holiday period. They also note that incident management or emergency, maintenance-related lane closures could also become necessary at any time on any route.

Updated information about travel conditions on Georgia’s interstates and state routes can be obtained by calling 511 or by visiting www.511ga.org before heading out, GDOT officials said. Georgia 511, a free service, provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide. Callers also can transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents around the clock, seven days a week.

For those involved in a wreck or who have an auto breakdown, transportation officials say motorists should remain in their car unless there is imminent danger. If able, the driver should pull over onto the nearest shoulder as far from the travel lanes as possible.

GDOT officials also are reminding motorists that Georgia’s Move Over Law requires drivers to move over one lane when a law enforcement, emergency vehicle or construction crew is on the side of the road and displaying flashing emergency lights. If it is unsafe to move over, then drivers should slow down below the posted speed.