BEWARE! If you are driving through Atlanta to get to Disney!

[poeticdiabetic]

As a matter of public announcement, I want to warn those driving down through downtown Atlanta to get to Disney. The Georgia DOT is issuing a warning that construction will be occurring on the weekends that will severly hamper highway traffic on I-75. The problems may be either Northbound or Southbound, depending on where they're working that weekend. Traffic will be backed up. Construction will begin on April 5th!

Oh, and today in Atlanta... Spring Break Traffic coming from and going to Florida had Atlanta traffic backed up pretty bad. Fridays are the worst days to go through Atlanta!

Happy Motoring!

 

[waynesgirl]

People, take 285W or 285E, either one will take you around ATL to the 75S interchange.

Another good way is take 285E to 675S and 675 runs you into 75S without having to go by the A/P. But beware, 285 is "affectionately" labeled the Speedway of the South.

Happy Driving!!!!

 

[dawgfan]

I -75 is under construction all over. I am more familiar with the southern end....from Macon to Valdosta. Contruction sites are periodic from south of Cordele to the state line. Perry is fairly heavily speed checked in summer. Cordele is nothing short of the biggest and most prolific speed trap in the south. This acitivity generally starts just past the exit for Hwy 300-the Ga. Fla. Parkway. A unit sits on a bridge on both sides of the Interstate laser speed checking. There will be as many as 4 to 5 units sitting on the exit ramp on both sides waiting for a speeder call from the radar unit. It is a real elaborate speed enforcement detail. The construction is widening to more lanes and bridge constuction. It is usually done at night but there is always some activity in the day.

 

[Shmily1]

If you can ride on 285 without being scared to death, you should be able to go on any attraction in WDW!!!! ToT should not scare you one bit!!!! I'd rather sit still on I-75!!!!

 

[willis37862]

Any idea on how long this will be going on? We are headed down this fall and we usually go that way.

 

[waynesgirl]

If you can ride on 285 without being scared to death, you should be able to go on any attraction in WDW!!!! ToT should not scare you one bit!!!! I'd rather sit still on I-75!!!!

Amen to that, y'all! You are definitely a local!

As far as continuing, does it really EVER end in Atlanta as far as construction?

 

[mickeymousemom]

Construction ends in Atlanta when pigs fly. And I totally agree about the Friday thing. Its a horrible day to drive thru. A couple years ago, we hit the northside of the city around 3:30(Friday). We hit the southside about 3 and half hours later. No kidding. We were a bit south of downtown and looking at the map I told Dh to take the next exit. We did, and drove thru several small towns(very cute and historic, BTW), cutting back to 75 about 30 minutes later.
We live in Indiana and usually leave on a Friday, so decided to try going thru Alabama. It worked. We missed Atlanta altogether and our time wasn't much different than if we had taken 75.
If you hit Atlanta at the right time, you get right thru on 75 with no problem. The thing is, anymore its hard to know when the "right time" is.

 

[myhusbandnofanofdis]

If you can ride on 285 without being scared to death, you should be able to go on any attraction in WDW!!!! ToT should not scare you one bit!!!! I'd rather sit still on I-75!!!!

Ohhhh... This explains why my 4 year old loved TOT last year. We rode it about 5 times. She thought it was great! Now, I know it is because she rides with me on 285!!

Seriously, this is a great warning for people. Traffic in Atlanta is bad enough. Closing the connector on the weekends is going to make it VERY VERY bad.

Personally, though, I would rather ride on 285 than to sit on 75. I hate sitting in traffic! Just get in a lane you are comfortable driving in, and have fun!!

 

[Cool-Beans]

A friend of mine just got back from a trip to Key West (the real one, the island, not in Orlando) that was routed through Atlanta both ways.

On the way out of Atlanta (to KW), an engine blew and they had to return to the airport, making an emergency landing.

On the way back (from KW), they got as far as Atlanta and were stranded overnight due to some kind of "wiring" issue with the plane.

I think Atlanta had a hex put on it by some unhappy traveling witch.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

GA DOT's website has all the info. I believe it's going to take 8 months to resurface 75 in the ATL, or at least that's what they have said on the news.

 

[All7OfUs]

We are leaving Knoxville around 6:00 am next Friday, which should put us in Atlanta around 9:30. Can anyone tell me if this might be in that magical hour that things might be calm?? Also, given the Atlanta potential hang up, can anyone tell me about how long it takes to get to the Mouse's House from Knoxville?? It's our first time coming from there.

Thanks!!

 

[KirklandTutu]

If you can ride on 285 without being scared to death, you should be able to go on any attraction in WDW!!!! ToT should not scare you one bit!!!! I'd rather sit still on I-75!!!!

Not Disney related at all....but this made me laugh because it brought back a memory.

I was 16 and had had my liscense for about a week and I got on 285...and was so freaked out by it that I actually ended up doing two and a half laps because I was to terrified to make the attempt to get off.

 

[CharacterFan]

I'm born and raised in GA, and hate everything about it. I've come to terms with the traffic. While it may get bad if your traveling in the middle of the day. I'd stick with 75/85 it's only 1 lane in each direction for 5 miles. 285 is too crazy for those who aren't used to it. It'll be busy after Braves games, expecially next weekend when the Mets are intown for opening weekend.

 

[DisneyBarlans]

We live in Metro Atlanta too (Lawrenceville). We have to deal with Gwinnett traffic on 316 & 85 as well as downtown traffic. We have decided that even if it takes a little bit longer, we're going the back way (Hwy. 11) so we don't even have to drive on 75 until we get to Macon.

 

[EpcotQueen]

Gee, wouldn't it be great if MARTA would put a 'car train' on that would wisk you through the downtown??!!!

 

[MegansMom]

We will be driving down through Atlanta in June, and now, NOT looking forward to it! On our last trip, we drove down on Thanksgiving day--it was GREAT!! No traffic anywhere--it was like having 75 to ourselves! (Even through Atlanta) I am subbing to this thread so that I can keep all your tidbits for when we venture through!

BTW--what makes 285 so scary? Just wondering!

 

[danny1649]

75 Always seems to have big delays so a few years ago we started using the airlines to avoid it. We now get on a plane in Indy and two hours later we are in Orlando.With the price of gas going to $4.00 a gallon this might be the way to go for more and more folks. Danny

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I285 is like the Indy 500 when it's not rush hour.

It's one of the few roads that I can drive 80 mph and be considered going slow.

 

[disnut8]

The construction downtown is on what is called The Connector. That's where I75 and I85 come together and go straight through downtown. The road has needed to be repaved for years. It will be best to avoid going straight through for the entire summer. At any time of the day or night because since the traffic usually is thinner at night, GA DOT will work during that time.

Use I285 around the city. That's the only route for trucks so you will have that kind of traffic. Stay with the traffic and don't pay attention to the speed limit signs. There are HOV lanes and they are on the left. They are NOT separate from the rest of the traffic, just a specially marked far left lane. The rules are kind of funky for entering and exiting. You should only enter or exit when there is a dotted line and not a solid one. Stupid, I know but at least it's a lane.

Don't be nervous about driving through here. Use your head. Know where you are going. An easy key to know when you have to get off I285 is when you start seeing the planes near Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.

Warning One - sometimes the police will do what is called a rolling speed block. They will send out five cruisers that will ride side by side and do 55 MPH (the posted speed limit which is a joke) around I285. You can't do anything about it. You will only lose a few minutes.

Warning Two - GO TO THE BATHROOM BEFORE YOU GET NEAR ATLANTA!!!!! There are NO rest areas until you get way down right outside of Macon.

Warning Three - if you think you will get traffic reports on the radio that you can understand, think again. North of Atlanta on I285 is the "topside perimeter". The reports will be fast so you will have to listen very careful. I've been here eight years and can almost figure out what they are talking about. If you have internet capability, log onto ajc.com and click "traffic". Then click on the Metro Area map and you'll be able to get current traffic situations.

The phone number for the GA DOT is 888-635-8287. I have it programmed into my cell phone.

 

[Disney grandma]

Construction ends in Atlanta when pigs fly. And I totally agree about the Friday thing. Its a horrible day to drive thru. A couple years ago, we hit the northside of the city around 3:30(Friday). We hit the southside about 3 and half hours later. No kidding. We were a bit south of downtown and looking at the map I told Dh to take the next exit. We did, and drove thru several small towns(very cute and historic, BTW), cutting back to 75 about 30 minutes later.
We live in Indiana and usually leave on a Friday, so decided to try going thru Alabama. It worked. We missed Atlanta altogether and our time wasn't much different than if we had taken 75.
If you hit Atlanta at the right time, you get right thru on 75 with no problem. The thing is, anymore its hard to know when the "right time" is.

What route did you take to go through Alabama? We live in central Illinois. I checked the map and was wondering if you go around St. Louis towards Mempis and then south. Thanks.