Georgia drivers: Good news for holiday travel

Georgia gas prices are stable and lane closures are on hold as the holidays approach.

Georgia gas prices are stable and lane closures are on hold as the holidays approach.

Amid the chaos of last-minute shopping and gift wrapping, there’s some good news for Georgia drivers plotting a mad dash to Grandma’s house for the holidays.

The Georgia Department of Transportation has suspended construction-related lane closures on heavily traveled interstates and state highways for the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. The suspensions started Saturday and will be in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday for Christmas. Lane closures will be suspended from 6 a.m. to Dec. 31 to 5 a.m. Jan. 2 for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Meanwhile, AAA reports Georgia gas prices are holding steady heading into Christmas. The average price for regular unleaded gasoline is $2.38 per gallon – a penny less than a week ago but 24 cents more than the time last year.

Gas in Georgia remains relatively cheap – the national average is $2.54 a gallon for regular unleaded.

AAA expects a record-breaking 115.6 million Americans will travel during the period between Dec. 21 and Jan. 1, 2020.