Thanksgiving traffic: Wednesday will be difficult for travelers

Thanksgiving Day traffic has already started for metro Atlantans.

Tuesday’s lunchtime traffic was already swamped with delays along the Downtown Connector and continued into rush hour.

Keep in mind if you're driving somewhere traffic Wednesday is sure to be awful most of the day. Typical starts around lunchtime.
— Jason Durden (@JasonDurden) November 22, 2016

The Georgia Department of Transportation suspended construction-related lane closures from 5 a.m. Wednesday to 10 p.m. Sunday, but that may not do much to ease traffic.

Travel times are expected to be at their worst between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday, according to transportation app Waze. GDOT recently partnered with the company to provide real-time crash reports.

» You've been warned: The worst times to drive in Atlanta this Thanksgiving

An estimated 48.7 million Americans are expected to travel during the season. Much of the traffic could clear out just before Thursday.

The Georgia Department of Transportation is suspending construction-related lane closures this Thanksgiving! Drive Alert this holiday season pic.twitter.com/4Sz6t5GzqY
— Georgia DOT (@GADeptofTrans) November 21, 2016

“There shouldn’t be too many people on the roads because some have already left,” GDOT spokesman Drew Belk said. “It shouldn’t be too crazy during the (holiday).”

Thursday, Friday and Saturday are expected to be good travel days. Drivers should expect noon to 7 p.m. Sunday to be the worst time to head back home.

Plan accordingly. #ATLtraffic info. via @waze. pic.twitter.com/cMmuezYNoE
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) November 22, 2016

The app recommends Monday as a day for travel.

Remember to check drive times online at GDOT’s website: 511ga.org.

About the Author

Meet the democratic socialist elected to Atlanta City Council

Kelsea Bond won a landslide victory in the District 2 race while championing Beltline rail, dense affordable housing and workers’ rights.

Coweta man arrested on murder charges in deaths of women, ages 82 and 79

Brandon Christopher Jones faces two counts of murder, according to the Coweta sheriff’s office. He was related to and lived with the two women he’s accused of killing.