UPDATE: [8:00 p.m.]: The lengthy delays caused by Vice President Mike Pence’s motorcade have largely subsided, though some trouble spots remain in its wake.
According to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center, traffic is still moving at a crawl on I-285 West near Riverside Drive due to volume. Traffic on I-75 along Pence’s route to Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta is now flowing smoothly, though there is a crash on I-75 South near North Marietta Parkway that is causing heavy delays.
UPDATE: [6:15 p.m.]: After going the wrong way on I-285, Vice President Mike Pence’s motorcade has returned to Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, ending a trip to Georgia in which he held two campaign rallies for the state’s Republican senators.
All lanes of I-75, I-285 and I-85 have reopened, but lengthy delays remain, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
Pence was in town stumping for U.S. Sens. David Purdue and Kelly Loeffler, who each face Jan. 5 runoffs to determine control of the Senate. During his trip to metro Atlanta, Pence held large rallies in Canton and Gainesville.
UPDATE: [5:15 p.m.]: Drivers are in for heavy delays on metro Atlanta’s interstates Friday afternoon as Vice President Mike Pence makes his way back to Cobb County after holding his second campaign rally of the day.
Pence stumped for U.S. Sens. David Purdue and Kelly Loeffler before a large crowd at the Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center in Gainesville. His motorcade is now headed back to Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta.
Traffic was already heavy on the Friday afternoon before Thanksgiving week, but drivers must now compete with road closures as the vice president’s motorcade makes its way south. To make matters worse, the convoy went the wrong way while exiting I-85, going east on the Perimeter instead of west.
The motorcade has since turned around, but is having to ease through gridlocked traffic. Major backups are reported on I-85, I-285, Ga. 400 and I-75 as Pence returns to Washington D.C.
UPDATE [3:25 p.m.]: Lanes have reopened on several metro Atlanta interstates Friday afternoon as Vice President Mike Pence’s motorcade arrived in Gainesville for his second campaign stop of the day.
Pence is in town campaigning for Republican Sens. David Purdue and Kelly Loeffler ahead of the state’s Jan. 5 runoff election to determine control of the U.S. Senate. He spoke earlier at a rally in Canton.
According to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center, rolling lane closures that caused delays on I-285, I-85 and I-985 have been lifted.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office said road closures will remain in place on Cavalry Church Road until about 5 p.m.
UPDATE [2:30 p.m.]: Vice President Mike Pence is on the move again ahead of his second campaign rally of the afternoon for Georgia Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler.
Pence’s first stop was in Canton, and he’s expected to speak in Gainesville later Friday.
A rolling closure is impacting southbound lanes of I-575 and I-75 from Canton to Marietta, the WSB 24-Hour Traffic Center reported.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office said drivers should expect road closures between 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. as Pence heads to Gainesville.
The closures will be on Cavalry Church Road between Barber Road and Chicopee Woods Elementary, according to sheriff’s office spokesman Derreck Booth.
“Drivers who use Calvary Church Road should plan alternate routes ahead of the closure,” he said.
UPDATE [1:30 p.m.]: All lanes of I-285, I-75 and I-575 between Sandy Springs and Cobb County are back open now that Vice President Mike Pence has made it to his Canton destination, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
Any lingering delays should clear quickly. More roadblocks are expected once Pence leaves Canton for Gainesville, and his direct route of travel is unknown, the Traffic Center reported.
UPDATE [12:20 p.m.]: Vice President Mike Pence has landed at Dobbins Air Reserve Base to campaign with U.S. Sens. David Purdue and Kelly Loeffler in Canton and Gainesville, two Republican strongholds that could bolster the senators’ efforts to keep their seats in the Jan. 5 runoff.
“Right now, they are already beginning to shut down lanes,” WSB traffic reporter Veronica Harrell said just after noon.
There are rolling roadblocks along I-285 between Sandy Springs and Cobb County and on I-75 and I-575 in Cherokee County, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
“Avoid all of this for maybe the next 30 minutes or so,” Harrell said.
ORIGINAL STORY: Expect rolling roadblocks along multiple metro Atlanta interstates when Vice President Mike Pence arrives in town Friday afternoon.
Pence is scheduled to campaign with U.S. Sens. David Purdue and Kelly Loeffler in Canton and Gainesville, two Republican strongholds that could bolster the senators’ efforts to keep their seats in the Jan. 5 runoff.
Air Force Two is scheduled to land at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta around lunchtime. From there, WSB traffic reporter Mark Arum said he expects rolling roadblocks along the I-75/I-575 corridor for Pence’s motorcade to travel to Canton.
Expect delays along the interstates between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
The exact route the vice president will take between Canton and Gainesville is unknown. There could be delays on any number of interstates and state highways between the two cities, or Pence could take a helicopter, Arum said.
“We know where he’s going, but we don’t know how he’s going to get there,” he said. “That’s why things are still up in the air.”
Arum said Hall County drivers should expect delays along the I-985 corridor when Pence arrives in Gainesville between 3:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.
— Please return to AJC.com for updates.
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