Driving for Thanksgiving Day? Get out of Atlanta now

Aside from a few crash-related backups, traffic throughout metro Atlanta flowed at normal paces just before 9 a.m., according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

“It was a busy start to the rush hour,” traffic reporter Mark Arum said, “but things have calmed down considerably.”

Things will be anything but calm between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., when travel times are expected to be at their worst, according to transportation app Waze. The Georgia Department of Transportation, which suspended construction-related lane closures from 5 a.m. Wednesday to 10 p.m. Sunday, recently partnered with Waze to provide real-time crash reports.

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

“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.

The app recommends Monday as a day for travel.

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

» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.