A lot of excellent advice given by everyone.
SamR gave a great link at:
http://www.georgia-navigator.com/index.shtml . You can see any of the cameras, electronic signs, construction sites, accident sites, maps, exit numbers, and much more.
I would definitely drive straight through Atlanta.
Except, if during traffic caused by going to work or leaving work for home, a large wreck closing almost all lanes, a huge Atlanta convention or multiple conventions causing the many visitors to tour the sites and use all of the roads, and during the driving period before or after a Braves baseball game, or Falcons football game.
And be very conservative when driving in rain in Atlanta and watch out for those drivers from everywhere that switch lanes and speed.
Keep these telephone numbers at 404-635-8000 or 1-888-635-8287 or "*DOT" on your cell phone or PDA to report or request information on traffic conditions or incidents.
Georgia has cameras facing the many areas of interstate and electronic signs on the interstates everywhere so that you can see the construction activity or traffic on your computer before you leave at:
http://www.georgia-navigator.com/maps . You can even look it up while travelling or put it on your pda or cell phone.
To see the construction sites on a Georgia map click on this link:
http://www.georgia-navigator.com/construction/maps/georgia?range=3 . Atlanta and I-285 seems to be covered with construction. You could check this map before you leave on vacation for construcition.
Or more specifically, the fifteen construciton sites for today around I-285, click here:
http://www.georgia-navigator.com/construction/lists/285 . Of course, this will change from day to day.
For over a decade, eighteen wheel trucks are not supposed to drive through Atlanta using I-75, I-85, or I-20 unless that have direct business in Atlanta. They are supposed to use the loop around Atlanta known as I-285.
For the past several months, there has been an enormous amount of construction over the entire I-285 for removing the entire depth of old concrete from not only the road but from the bridges along I-285.
Many friends at work have had to find alternate routes to work bypassing I-285. People still use I-285, but when you are used to getting to work in a certain amount of time, and you can't be late because you work in a hospital, people chose alternate routes off of I-285 and around the I-285 construction.
If I was not in a hurry on my day off work or driving home from work, I would probably use I-285, sometimes.
The traffic can be terrible at times.
Many times you will see warnings on the overhead electronic GDOT/DOT signs warning you of the construction on I-285 and that you chose another route. But usually the traffic is already backed up by this point because the lanes were reduced by four or five lanes to one or two lanes.
Can you say, uuuugggghhhhh.
So go straight through I-85/I-75 into Atlanta.
Try not to go doing times people go to work and come home from work.
And if there is a wreck, there goes your lanes down from five or six lanes to three to none depending on the wreck.
And rain always seems to cause some wreck with those people that switching lanes and speeding or whatever.
When I leave for Florida, I like to leave early in the morning before 6:00 A.M., so that I get to WDW about check-in time.
Good luck for clear skies, no traffic, no construction and definitely, no accidents.
Sincerely, Ray
(you can laugh if you want, but those of us that live here, know that its true!)
)
