I-75 Construction thru Atlanta

[The Druggist]

Hi Everyone! Long time reader, first time poster. My family and I have driven to Disney twice a year for the past 8 years or so. Always drive 75 south from Cincinnati and never have had a problem going through Atlanta.

Now I hear there's a bunch of construction for new toll lanes being done at the moment. A family friend drove down and back to FL about 2 weeks ago and said Atlanta is a mess. Can anyone verify this?

I'm trying to time our departure time, but since we have to board our dogs the Friday we leave, I'm thinking we'll be hitting ATL between 5-7pm. Sucks, I know.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[uccats97]

I live in Cincinnati too and drive to WDW via 75S 1-2 times a year. Just drove down on Good Friday (3/25). Construction was abundant but not at all on the interstate. It's all taking place in the median and off to the side where a new bypass looking road is being built. We did run in to heavy traffic going thru ATL around 1pm. Being Good Friday, I think lots of people were leaving work early. Seemed like normal rush hour with heavy traffic in both northbound and southbound lanes. We drove home on 4/1, also a Friday but around 10pm, and had no traffic at all. Now, 75N thru TN on Saturday 4/2...just awful. I could've walked faster!

 

[The Druggist]

Thanks for the response. I heard 75 northbound around the TN/KY border was bad due to a mudslide back in February. Should be cleaned up by the time we go in May.

Here's to hoping Friday evening in ATL isn't any more congested than it normally would be.

 

[uccats97]

No problem! You could always plan to stop for an early dinner just north of ATL. That might give the traffic time to clear up a little before you get into the city.
(75N in TN near KY was reopened from the slide but down to one lane. There was construction in Knoxville that was down to one lane as well.)
Have a great trip!

 

[DrGonzo]

Actually depending on the time it can be an absolute nightmare. I live in Acworth which is about 35 miles north of Atlanta. on a good day I can make it to Atlanta in about 40 minutes, But there are times where it takes well over and hour. I've also had days where we went 1 mile in an hour. The construction isn't the real problem although it doesn't help, it's the shear volume of traffic, There is 16 total lanes of traffic going through Atlanta and the further north you go the lanes lessen. By me it's only 6 lanes. So best thing is to try and hit the Atlanta area either between 10am thru 3pm or anytime after 9pm

 

[LadyBeBop]

Waving from Erlanger (just south of Cincinnati).

I'm assuming you are boarding the dogs Friday morning about 8 or 9 AM. If you're on the road by 8:30, you'll probably make Atlanta before 4. Any later, and you'll be pushing it.

Can you board the dogs Thursday night? Or is that much more expensive?

Similarly, can you board the dogs somewhere like Lexington? You can leave at 7, board the dogs at about 8:30 and make Arlanta by about 2:30. Or will that take too much space in your car?

One more suggestion. Have you ever gone through the Carolinas? It's only about a hour longer, possibly less. You take I-40 east out of Knoxville to Ashville, NC; I-26 to I-95 in SC and I-95 south to I-4 at Daytona. I-4 takes you right to Disney.

 

[North of Mouse]

Hi Everyone! Long time reader, first time poster. My family and I have driven to Disney twice a year for the past 8 years or so. Always drive 75 south from Cincinnati and never have had a problem going through Atlanta.

Now I hear there's a bunch of construction for new toll lanes being done at the moment. A family friend drove down and back to FL about 2 weeks ago and said Atlanta is a mess. Can anyone verify this?

I'm trying to time our departure time, but since we have to board our dogs the Friday we leave, I'm thinking we'll be hitting ATL between 5-7pm. Sucks, I know.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Going through Atlanta anytime during the day is pretty much a pain to us, but especially 6-9:30 AM and 4-8 PM.
We passed through a couple months ago and it wasn't very pleasant even around 2pm. I 75 construction was a nightmare! Good luck!

 

[Disneypeach]

I live just north of ATL and just came thru I75 N yesterday afternoon and it was moving ok (on a Saturday around 5pm). The bulk of the construction is south of Atlanta (south of I285) and as a PP said most work being done in the median. At least 3 lanes were open on each side yesterday. But it will be a zoo as North of Mouse says during the morning and evening rush hours, as is most of Atlanta traffic.

 

[Disneypeach]

Just to add: I took I675 to I285 east side from I75 N so I bypassed the downtown area.

 

[youngb1978]

How is the traffic if you use the HOV lane?

 

[DrGonzo]

How is the traffic if you use the HOV lane?

For the most part the HOV lane moves along nicely, but it can get backed up just as bad too. When I head into Atlanta I like taking 285 to 20 to get around the traffic on 75

 

[dreiwhit]

FWIW, I've always had problems with traffic or backups around Atlanta no matter what time of day. My best "experience" was heavy bumper to bumper traffic at 10am on a Saturday morning. No accidents, no road work, just a lot of cars.

If I have to go through Atlanta, I try to take state roads or US Highways to give Atlanta a wide berth.

 

[loves to dive]

I live about 45 min. north of Atlanta and avoid it at costs if possible. Thankfully, when we go to Florida we can go down 441 and get on 75 in Macon, much easier. My Daddy used to work for the state highway back in the 60s and the big joke was that 75 will never be finished. That is just about true, I've never been on it when there wasn't construction somewhere.