Georgia DOT suspends lane closures for 2026 Memorial Day Weekend, shares statewide travel forecasts

ATLANTA -The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) announces that during Memorial Day Weekend, all interstate lane closures will be the suspended beginning Friday, May 22, at 12:00 p.m. noon through Tuesday, May 26, at 5:00 a.m. to reduce anticipated travel delays, and increase safety for travelers.

Important Reminders for Motorists:

• While lane closures are suspended, construction crews may be still working near roadways, and some long-term closures could remain in place for safety reasons.
• Emergency or incident-related lane closures may still occur at any time, as needed.

Stay alert, move over one lane, when possible, and reduce speed when workers are present and when traveling through an active or currently inactive work zone. Motorists inside the metro Atlanta area and outside should anticipate increased traffic around popular tourist destinations around the state.

Outlined below are the anticipated best and worst travel times. Georgia DOT is sharing the following travel forecast for the 2026 Memorial Day Week, May 20-26, based on historical traffic data from the previous year, and urges travelers to always plan ahead and exercise caution on the roads.

Metro Atlanta Interstates:

• Motorists should expect typical congestion on Wednesday, May 20, from 3-7 p.m.
• Motorists should be advised of potential heavy traffic on Thursday, May 21, and Friday, May 22, from 12-8 p.m.
• Motorists should expect typical congestion on Saturday, May 23, from 12-6 p.m.
• Motorists should expect light to normal traffic on Sunday, May 24, and Monday, May 25.
• Motorists should expect typical congestion to return on Tuesday, May 26, from 3-7 p.m.

Metro Atlanta Surface Streets:

• Heavy traffic is expected to begin in the early afternoon - late evening on Wednesday, May 20, through Friday, May 22.
• Normal to light traffic is expected from Saturday, May 23, to Tuesday, May 26.

Express Lanes May 22-25:

Below are the anticipated schedule changes for the Northwest Corridor and South Metro Corridor Express Lanes for the Memorial Day Weekend. RED directions indicate a change from the usual schedule. Travelers are advised to check the updated schedules and plan their routes accordingly during the holiday weekend. Please note, the schedules are subject to change due to current traffic needs.

Express Lane Schedules:

On major interstates outside of the metro Atlanta area, travel data from 2025 has shown the following traffic trends during the Memorial Day Weekend travel period.

Peach Pass Usage Updates:

• Peach Pass is accepted at the express lane systems in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, North Carolina, and Rhode Island.
• Current interoperability is set with Florida's SunPass, E-Pass, and LeeWay. It is also interoperable with North Carolina's QuickPass.
• Users coming from accepted states into Georgia can utilize their pass on the Georgia Express Lanes.
• For the most current updates and directional information, please visit the Peach Pass website at PeachPass.com

Major Interstates Outside of metro Atlanta:

• I-75 is predicted to have moderate congestion to heavy congestion southbound and northbound out of Atlanta into Stockbridge.
• I-85 and I-185 are predicted to have moderate congestion in West Georgia near Alabama.
• I-20 is predicted to have light congestion eastbound and westbound in West Georgia near Alabama.
• I-24 is predicted to have light congestion in Northwest Georgia near Chattanooga.
• I-75 is predicted to have light congestion northbound and southbound in North Georgia near Chattanooga.
• I-16 is predicted to have heavy congestion westbound and eastbound in East Georgia near Savannah.
• I-475, I-75, and I-16 are predicted to have heavy congestion in West Georgia near Macon.
• I-75 is predicted to have light congestion northbound and southbound in South Georgia near Valdosta.
• I-85 is predicted to have light congestion near Northeast Georgia near South Carolina.
• I-95 is predicted to have light congestion northbound and southbound in Southeast Georgia (near Florida).

Safe Driving Tips:
If you find yourself traveling this Memorial Day holiday, do so safely with these best practices in mind:

• Drive defensively:
  • An increase in out-of-town drivers is expected on Memorial Day Weekend. Use caution for unfamiliar drivers on the roads.
  • Be alert and aware. Slow down and approach with caution if you see a car with its hazard lights on.
  • Maintain a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you in case they come to an abrupt stop.
  • Don't drive distracted. Stay focused on the road for any sudden incidents.
• Move over for First Responders:
  • Traffic-related incidents are a leading cause of death for law enforcement officers. Do your part to ensure highway safety by driving alert, eliminating distractions, and staying focused on the road.
  • Georgia's Move Over Law requires motorists to slow down and move over one lane, if possible, if an emergency or Georgia DOT vehicle with flashing lights is parked on the shoulder of the highway.
  • Vehicles included in the law include all first responders (law enforcement, fire, EMS), utility vehicles, Georgia DOT vehicles, HERO & CHAMP units, and wreckers responding to a crash.
• Call 511 to request HERO or CHAMP Assistance
  • Highway Emergency Response Operators (HERO) patrol the metro Atlanta area 24/7. It is a free service in the state of Georgia provided by the Georgia DOT.
  • HERO assists motorists by changing flat tires, jump-starting batteries, providing fuel or coolant, pushing vehicles to the shoulder, transporting motorists to safe areas away from traffic, performing minor mechanical repairs, restoring normal traffic flow after incidents, and administering first aid.
  • Coordinated Highway Assistance & Maintenance Program (CHAMP) operators patrol interstates outside of metro Atlanta (except I-59 and I-24) and is also a free service provided by Georgia DOT. CHAMP operators assist stranded motorists, change tires, maintain traffic flow, and identify several maintenance issues.

Travel Best Practices:

• Make sure child safety is a priority in your vehicle:
  • Ensure all children in the vehicle are appropriately buckled up before driving to your destination.
  • If a child cannot fit properly into a seat belt, keep them in a booster seat.
  • Remember that seat belts should never rest on the stomach area or across a child's face.
  • When stopping at a store along the trip, do not leave children unattended in the vehicle.

Leverage 511GA Travel Services:

• Prepare for your journey by utilizing the comprehensive travel services offered by 511GA. Visit 511ga.org or download the free 511GA app on Apple or Google for:
  • Turn-by-turn navigation, estimated travel times, and real-time travel speeds.
  • Travel forecasts and real-time road conditions, closures, and construction to ensure a safe arrival at your destination.
  • Need to use 511 Georgia hands-free? Follow the law, select Drive Mode to receive audio alerts, and call 511 from a hands-free device.
  • Access traffic cameras along your drive to stay informed about current road conditions and events.
• Plan ahead with MY511 - Create and save routes and cameras:
  • Save your Memorial Day destination route and use it in our step-by-step navigation tool.
  • As you travel, stay informed about closures, construction, and incidents in real time by activating My511 alerts.
  • Save and view traffic cameras along your drive to stay informed about events currently happening on the road.

Call 511 to speak with a live operator 24/7/365. Your safety and convenience are our top priorities. For up-to-date information about travel conditions on Georgia's interstates and state routes, call 511 or visit www.511ga.org before heading out. 511GA is a free service that provides real-time statewide information on Georgia's interstates and state routes, including seeking roadside motorist assistance, current traffic conditions, and reporting incidents or lane closures 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Callers access HERO assistance in metro Atlanta or CHAMP service on highways in other coverage regions of the state.

Georgia Department of Transportation plans, constructs and maintains Georgia's state and federal highways. We're involved in bridge, waterway, public transit, rail, general aviation, bike and pedestrian programs. And we help local governments maintain their roads. Georgia DOT and its nearly 4,000 employees are committed to delivering a transportation system focused on innovation, safety, sustainability and mobility. The Department's vision is to boost Georgia's competitiveness through leadership in transportation.

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