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

[stky6]

This is exactly why when driving from Cincinnati Ohio in August I'm taking a big left turn at Knoxville and coming down the coast I remember driving through never ending Georgia when I was little on trips to Florida...just don't want to put my kids through that unless they misbehave somewhere in Kentucky

 

[CarolA]

CharacterFan, thank you for the reply. Thank you to everyone else for the info too.

I have often wondered why Atlanta does not have a bypass ala the Macon bypass? It serves no purpose to Atlanta to have all of us driving through as we are not too likely to hop off an exit to shop or something and would greatly decrease the congestion your streets as well as accidents by those of us who have no clue as to what we are doing.

I bet you could even make it a toll road and we would ALL be happy.

Does anyone know a back way around Atlanta, even if it takes a bit more time? Not too many changes as I get lost easily.

I am coming from south of Indpls, 65 to 24 and then 75.

Thank you all. Slightly Goofy

We outgrew the bypass! When it was designed it was "way out there" Now.... it's in the middle of the city.

And of course we have the "NOT IN MY BACK YARD" group. It is VERY hard to build new bypasses now. WHen I lived in Nashville ours was delayed for YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS by lawsuits trying to keep it "out of my backyard"!

There have been plans for toll roads (aka as Lexus roads) but they keep getting derailed too.... THis time it's the "we don't want to raise taxes to pay for roads but we think everyone should get them for free" group!

 

[CarolA]

This is exactly why when driving from Cincinnati Ohio in August I'm taking a big left turn at Knoxville and coming down the coast I remember driving through never ending Georgia when I was little on trips to Florida...just don't want to put my kids through that unless they misbehave somewhere in Kentucky

Just a warning.

1. Knoxville has managed to tear up thier interstates beyond ALL belief. Be sure to check the Tennessee DOT site for details when you start out.

2. Always check both TN and NC for issues on I-40 over the mountians. I once spent 6 hours stuck due to a rock slide!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Daisy, thank you so much. That is very useful information. I have only been on the bypass once, back during the World's Fair I think, and I had to get on and off several exits and it about scared me plumb to death. I have no problems going fast just not changing lanes while doing so.

CarolA, that makes perfect sense but I am still willing to bet that us travelers would be willing to pay a toll AND drive miles out of our way to avoid your beautiful city. Wonder how far out they would have to build a new road to keep it from being gobbled up with all your growth? Maybe your governor could sell the road to a foreign company as ours did.

stky6, maybe I could just hitch a ride with you guys?

Slightly Goofy

 

[stky6]

Just a warning.

1. Knoxville has managed to tear up thier interstates beyond ALL belief. Be sure to check the Tennessee DOT site for details when you start out.

2. Always check both TN and NC for issues on I-40 over the mountians. I once spent 6 hours stuck due to a rock slide!

Thanks for the info. We'll be arriving in Gatlinburg about 5am, grab a nap and some pancakes then taking 321 out to I-40 and down from there to I-26 then I-95 into St. Augustine for the night. Can't decide to take the A1A or I-95 out of St. Augustine to Daytona, have to see how the morning goes

 

[Disney grandma]

What's the best way to go through Birmingham and hook up with 280?

Princess Belle - what about going to Montgomery and then Dothan and across the panhandle of Florida and then pick up 75 S.

 

[canadaman]

Well this coming weekend is the big weekend i drive to disney. Does anyone now yet if they will be working on north or south lanes through atlantas downtown connector yet??

Thanks

 

[dlaushey]

Well this coming weekend is the big weekend i drive to disney. Does anyone now yet if they will be working on north or south lanes through atlantas downtown connector yet??

Thanks

I don't think the press release has been published for the up coming weekend. Check this site for updates:

http://www.dot.state.ga.us/informat...erstates/downtownconnector/Pages/default.aspx

Good Luck!

 

[dlaushey]

I would avoid the Atlanta D/T connector this weekend 7/18-7/21:


http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/me...kend_paving.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

 

[canadaman]

I would avoid the Atlanta D/T connector this weekend 7/18-7/21:


http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/me...kend_paving.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

I was really set on taking the i 75 HOV lane right through atlanta on sunday. But your acticle has me changing my mind. I was planing on going through on the i 75 around 7:30-8:00am sunday morning. Will the connector still be packed tight at that time??
If i take the i285w by-pass what can i expect around the same time? I have heard some bad things about the highway. That early in the morning it is probably pretty empty though right??

Thanks

This is starting to make me nervous

 

[dlaushey]

At that time in the morning on Sunday you should be fine. I will say I haven't driven down at that time in a while on a Sunday so I can't be sure. Earlier the better but I would guess it shouldn't be much of a problem.

Good Luck and have a safe trip.

 

[wdwmaw]

Planning the drive for Oct. We usually drive through Atlanta in the middle of the night, hate going around. Thinking we would hit Atlanta during the day, what would a good time be on a Fri. or should we just to plan on going around no matter what?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My family and I will be driving through Atlanta on Sunday August 2, so does anyone have an idea how it will be? We will be coming from Cleveland, Tennessee since we will be staying there the day before and hopefully we will reach Atlanta around 10:00 AM that day.

 

[CharacterFan]

Planning the drive for Oct. We usually drive through Atlanta in the middle of the night, hate going around. Thinking we would hit Atlanta during the day, what would a good time be on a Fri. or should we just to plan on going around no matter what?

honestly, on a Friday afternoon they are both going to be stopped. If there is a Braves game or other sporting event going on (not sure what part of October you're going) go around the city. If not might as well go threw, it might be shorter.

Traffic starts to back up around 3pm, but the mornings are lighter then the rest of the week.

 

[CharacterFan]

My family and I will be driving through Atlanta on Sunday August 2, so does anyone have an idea how it will be? We will be coming from Cleveland, Tennessee since we will be staying there the day before and hopefully we will reach Atlanta around 10:00 AM that day.

You should be fine. The game that day isn't until 8pm. The repaving is done, and traffic should be moving. They're still doing something at the start of the connector, but I haven't noticed any back ups on the weekends.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

You should be fine. The game that day isn't until 8pm. The repaving is done, and traffic should be moving. They're still doing something at the start of the connector, but I haven't noticed any back ups on the weekends.

Thank you for the information.

 

[clkelley]

I go "through" Atlanta regardless. For one thing you lose the semis going through downtown.

 

[wdwmaw]

honestly, on a Friday afternoon they are both going to be stopped. If there is a Braves game or other sporting event going on (not sure what part of October you're going) go around the city. If not might as well go threw, it might be shorter.

Traffic starts to back up around 3pm, but the mornings are lighter then the rest of the week.

Friday Oct 2 is when we will be heading through that way. We are 6 hours from there and I was wanting to leave around 4am so we would hit Atlanta around 10am. Was hoping to hit between morning rush and lunch. What do you think?

 

[dlaushey]

Friday Oct 2 is when we will be heading through that way. We are 6 hours from there and I was wanting to leave around 4am so we would hit Atlanta around 10am. Was hoping to hit between morning rush and lunch. What do you think?

Friday at 10:00 should be fine - however, you really never know. Some delays can last until 10 but usually they are clear by then even on a Friday. It is almost always better to go through instead of around. For one thing you will have the HOV lanes to utilize - the perimeter does not. Also a PP stated you lose the semi's going through vs. around. And it is shorter to go through. Just watch the signs, the HOV lanes have exits that can be confusing and when merging with 85 from 75 it looks like you might be exiting to 85N but the 75S HOV passes by on the left - again just watch the signs.

 

[wdwmaw]

Friday at 10:00 should be fine - however, you really never know. Some delays can last until 10 but usually they are clear by then even on a Friday. It is almost always better to go through instead of around. For one thing you will have the HOV lanes to utilize - the perimeter does not. Also a PP stated you lose the semi's going through vs. around. And it is shorter to go through. Just watch the signs, the HOV lanes have exits that can be confusing and when merging with 85 from 75 it looks like you might be exiting to 85N but the 75S HOV passes by on the left - again just watch the signs.

Thank you so much I love driving through downtown, Atlanta is such a beautiful city to drive through.