Monday Morning Rush Hour Showed "Comparable" Volumes On Interstates: GDOT

ATLANTA, GA -- Commuters in metro Atlanta planned ahead and took the advice of state and city officials to find alternate routes to work during the Monday morning rush hours following the March 30 collapse of a portion of I-85 in Midtown.

That's according to the Georgia Department of Transportation, which released data early Monday evening pertaining to the April 10 traffic flow.

With the end of spring break, state and city leaders along with businesses implored commuters to telework, use public transit like MARTA or GRTA Express Bus Service and to utilize flexible work schedules due to potential increases in average travel times.

"Commuters in Atlanta clearly heeded those warnings," the agency said.

An analysis by Georgia DOT’s traffic operations engineers of the 5 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. peak traffic rush hour showed comparable volumes across the metro area on most major interstates; however, the congestion formed much earlier than normal, indicating a shift in commuting patterns due to flex scheduling.

Georgia DOT State Traffic Operations Engineer Andrew Heath said that the I-85 corridor from S.R. 316 to I-285 saw the most significant change — an 18 percent increase in travel time over last Monday.

In most locations, the travel times were approximately the same, which means that commuters are choosing to utilize flex hours, telework or take alternative commute options to work.

“The most important take away from this morning’s commute is that drivers must continue doing what they started today, and not become complacent by falling back into old commuting patterns too soon,” Heath added. “The goal, of course, is to relieve the extreme congestion on the interstate and arterials as we work to quickly rebuild and replace the I-85 bridge over Piedmont Road. We thank businesses and other major employers for offering commute alternatives to employees and encouraging others to join this effort.”

Georgia DOT is highlighting the efforts of many of those employers who are using innovative approaches to overcome the temporary closure of I-85 in a video series beginning today and released via social media channels.

• Check out the latest message from Emory University President Claire Sterk here.

The following resources will help motorists plan their commutes:

• Visit www.dot.ga.gov for the most up-to-date maps and information on road closures and alternate routes
• Visit www.511ga.org or dial 511 for routing information or to speak to an operator who can assist
• Visit Georgia Commute Options for additional resources and information about available cash incentives for using commuting options
• Visit www.itsmarta.com for MARTA routes and schedules
• Visit www.grta.org for information on GRTA express routes

The Atlanta Regional Commission is providing alternate route options to commercial vehicles and large trucks to help them get through the region. These types of vehicles are also encouraged to only travel through the metro area during overnight hours and take advantage of I-285 to bypass the city.

Georgia DOT said it is aiming to have the Interstate 85 bridge over Piedmont Road open by June 15.

See also:

• I-85 Collapse: Suspect Indicted on Arson Charge
• I-85 Collapse: Expect 20-Percent Spike In Traffic Starting April 10
• I-85 Collapse: GDOT Announces Reopening Date

Image via Shutterstock