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Buckle up. It’s going to be a long summer of construction zones and delays, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).

GDOT is also warning drivers to avoid non-essential travel on I-285 this weekend.

GDOT said in a press release, “In Metro Atlanta, roadway construction, bridge replacement, resurfacing, sign upgrades and striping will occur on every major interstate and many state routes, leading to significant delays – especially during weeknights and weekends. There will also be construction projects on major highways throughout the state.”

“While we understand the frustration of being caught up in traffic delays, the long days and warm temperatures of summer are the ideal time to make needed repairs and improvements to our state and federal highways,” Georgia DOT State Construction Engineer Marc Mastronardi is quoted as saying in the press release. “The preventative maintenance activities we undertake in the summer save taxpayers millions of dollars in avoided reconstruction costs over the long term.”

Here’s the full press release including information on tools to help you avoid the summer construction:

ATLANTA– Plan ahead, drive alert and watch for work zones. That’s the advice to motorists from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) as an active summer construction season gets into full swing with projects beginning or underway throughout the state.

In Metro Atlanta, roadway construction, bridge replacement, resurfacing, sign upgrades and striping will occur on every major interstate and many state routes, leading to significant delays – especially during weeknights and weekends. There will also be construction projects on major highways throughout the state.

To minimize traffic delays, the Department seeks to make the road work as non-disruptive to motorists as possible.

· Weather permitting and in most cases, lane closures are limited to times of lighter traffic volume: overnights Monday through Thursday (9 pm to 5 am) and weekends (from 9 pm Friday through 5 am Monday).

· In Metro Atlanta, GDOT will endeavor to limit lane closures to a maximum of two consecutive miles.

· Scheduled construction activities can change at any time due to emergencies; maintenance requiring immediate attention; or inclement weather. In these cases, emergency lane closures may be necessary outside the designated times.

“While we understand the frustration of being caught up in traffic delays, the long days and warm temperatures of summer are the ideal time to make needed repairs and improvements to our state and federal highways,” notes Georgia DOT State Construction Engineer Marc Mastronardi. “The preventative maintenance activities we undertake in the summer save taxpayers millions of dollars in avoided reconstruction costs over the long term.”

With more orange cones on the roadways this summer, work zone safety is a primary concern – for construction workers, and for motorists, who are often the victims in work zone crashes. GDOT reminds drivers that work zones are not always stationary. Moving maintenance activities like litter pickup, mowing, sweeping and drainage will also be in operation over the summer months and should be approached like any other work zone: slow down; allow extra distance between vehicles; read signs; obey road crew flaggers; and expect the unexpected. The Department notes that on occasion motorists may see closed lanes when no workers are present. This could happen during concrete work, due to time needed to cure or harden the concrete.

“Whether you are on a family vacation, an out-of-state trucker, or a motorist just passing through, I can’t over-emphasize the importance of planning ahead and looking for alternative routes when planning weekend travel this summer in Georgia,” Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell McMurry added. “Prior to getting on the road, call 511 or visit the 511 website. You’ll get real-time road conditions and you will know what to expect.”

With the heavy summer construction season comes an increase in driving. Since the beginning of the year, traffic fatalities are up substantially in Georgia with many of these deaths attributed to distracted driving. Georgia DOT’s DriveAlert ArriveAlive campaign implores motorists to take responsibility for their driving behavior. It’s easy as 1-2-3.

1. Buckle up … always wear a seat belt no matter how far you drive 2. Stay off the phone and mobile devices … if possible, shut off the phone to avoid temptation; and no texting 3. Drive alert … do not drive drowsy or impaired.

GDOT offers a variety of tools for motorists to use for planning their summer driving activities.

· Georgia DOT’s Summer Construction web page features an interactive statewide project map. Visit www.dot.ga.gov/BS/Projects/FeaturedProjects.

· Call 511 to report incidents and for real-time traffic and travel information statewide, including traffic conditions, lane closures, and delays. In Metro Atlanta, request HERO assistance by calling 511.

· Real-time, detailed schedule and lane closure information on all work is posted on the 511 website at www.511ga.org.

· Interstate highway travelers can visit the state’s welcome centers for free maps and access to real-time information on construction or incident-related delays and lane closures.

· For more information about the DriveAlert ArriveAlive campaign, visit www.dot.ga.gov/DS/SafetyOperation/DAAA. #ArriveAliveGA

· For more information about work zone safety, visit www.dot.ga.gov/DS/SafetyOperation/Workzone.

Here is GDOT’s list of projects for this weekend:

· Striping on I-285 southbound will require up to three lane closures from Chamblee Tucker Road to East Ponce de Leon/ Church Street continuously from 9 p.m., Friday until5 a.m., Monday;

· Two northbound lanes on I-285 will close at Northlake Parkway from 7:30 p.m.,Friday, until 7 a.m., Saturday for sign structure work.

· On I-285, two northbound lanes will close from SR 139/ Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to South Atlanta Road continuously from 9 p.m., Friday until 5 a.m., Monday for concrete rehabilitation;

· Additionally, two southbound lanes will close from SR 139/ Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to SR 6/ Camp Creek Parkway continuously from 9 p.m., Friday until 5 a.m.,Monday for concrete rehabilitation and curing;

·  Work on Spaghetti Junction will require one eastbound and one westbound lane closure on I-285 – inside of Spaghetti Junction over I-85­ -continuously from 9 p.m., Friday, until 5 a.m., Monday;

·  Work on Spaghetti Junction will also require one lane closure on the ramp from I-285 westbound to I-85 southbound continuously from 9 p.m., Friday, until 5 a.m., Monday;

· The last of the bridge work on Spaghetti Junction will take place on the exit ramp from I-285 eastbound to Chamblee Tucker Road to close continuously from 9 p.m., Friday, until 5 a.m., Monday;

· On I-85, one northbound lane will close from Jimmy Carter Boulevard to Indian Trail Road from 10 p.m., Friday until 5 a.m., Monday;

· Paving on US 78 westbound will require one lane closure from Memorial Drive to the I-285 interchange nightly from 9 p.m., Friday, until 5 a.m., Monday;

· Bridge joint replacement on I-20 will require two westbound lane closures from Langhorn Street to SR 139/ Martin Luther King Jr. Drive/Anderson Avenue, continuously from 9 p.m., Friday, until 5 a.m., Monday;

· Bridge work will also require two westbound lanes on I-20 to close from SR 12/US 278 to Alcovy Road from 9 p.m., Friday until 5 a.m., Monday;

· On Georgia (State Route) 400, one southbound lane will close from the Toll Plaza to Lenox Road from 8 a.m., until 5:30 p.m., Saturday for cable work;

· Two northbound and two southbound lanes will close on Georgia (State Route) 400 at Northridge Road and one lane will close on Northridge Road continuously  from 9 p.m., Friday until 5 a.m.,Monday;

· On I-75 northbound, the Express Lanes project will require two lane closures at Windy Hill Road and one lane closure at Wade Green Road from 9 p.m., Friday until 10 a.m., Saturday;

· The Express Lanes project will also require one northbound and one southbound lane closure on I-575 from Big Shanty Road to Chastain Road from 9 p.m., Friday until 10 a.m., Saturday;

· Two northbound lanes will close on I-75 from SR 5 SPUR to SR 5/ Barrett Parkway from 9 p.m.,Friday until 7 a.m., Saturday for sign structure work;

·  Pipeline construction will require one lane closure at SR 237/Piedmont Road and Habersham Road from 8 a.m., until 5 p.m., Saturday;

·  One lane will close on SR 10/ Freedom Parkway at US 78/US 278/ Ponce de Leon Avenue daily from 8 a.m., until 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday; and finally

· On SR 154/ Memorial Drive, one lane will close between Moreland Avenue and Wilkinson Drive and one lane will close on SR 154/ Memorial Drive between East Lake Drive and Candler Road both closures are from 9 a.m., until 3 p.m., Saturday.