As weekends in Atlanta go, they don’t get much busier than the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend. Atlanta police estimate more than 600,000 people will spend the long weekend in the city.
“Labor Day weekend is the last holiday of the summer, and we expect heavy traffic on our roads,” said Marc Mastronardi, state construction engineer for the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Here’s what you need to know to avoid what is bound to be heavy traffic in and around downtown Atlanta:
Roadwork takes a holiday
GDOT will suspend construction-related lane closures on interstates and heavily-traveled state routes from noon Friday until 5 a.m. Tuesday.
» For updated traffic information, listen to AM 750 and 95.5 FM News/Talk WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.
Rain won’t take a holiday
There’s a good chance rain will put a damper on outdoor events through Monday, Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said.
“It’s cloudy, drizzly, rainy all the way through our holiday weekend,” she said.
Minton put Atlanta’s rain chance at 30 percent Friday, 60 percent Saturday and 40 percent Sunday and Monday.
Highs will be in the low 90s Friday, but the clouds and rain will hold temperatures to the low 80s Saturday and Sunday and mid-80s Monday. Overnight lows will be in the upper 60s to low 70s through the same period.
» Check the full forecast and track changes.
Dragon Con, books and football highlight full calendar of weekend events
The four-day Dragon Con sci-fi, fantasy and comic book festival starts Friday, taking over several downtown hotels. One of the highlights of the event is the 14th annual Dragon Con Parade, which marches down Peachtree Street beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday.
A big crowd is also expected at the Georgia Dome for Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game pitting Auburn against Louisville. But first, Georgia State takes on Charlotte at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Dome.
A few blocks west of the Dome, Morehouse plays Edward Waters at 7 p.m. Saturday. Seventy miles east of the Dome in Athens, the University of Georgia opens the football season against Louisiana-Monroe at noon Saturday.
Other weekend events include the AJC Decatur Book Festival Friday through Sunday in downtown Decatur and the Atlanta Black Gay Pride Weekend at various Midtown locations.
» Full list of weekend events.
Gas prices down a buck from last Labor Day weekend
Motorists headed out of town for the holiday weekend will be spending less at the pump this year.
Atlanta's average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline early Thursday was $2.37, down from $3.37 a year ago, according to atlantagasprices.com.
The lowest prices in metro Atlanta were in Duluth, where one station was charging $2.06, and in Lawrenceville, where gas was $2.07 and $2.08 at several stations.
Statewide, the cheapest gas was in the Augusta area, where a couple of warehouse clubs were charging $1.82 and $1.87.
GSP crackdown on impaired driving
Georgia State Patrol troopers this weekend will be participating in the “Operation Zero Tolerance” campaign, a nationwide mobilization against impaired drivers.
Last year, troopers arrested 234 people for driving under the influence over the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Safety tips from Atlanta police
Atlanta police will work with other local agencies this weekend and use mounted patrol and off-duty officers to help with traffic and security. APD will staff events at the Georgia Dome, Centennial Olympic Park, Piedmont Park and other venues. The department is encouraging use of its mobile app for updated information. Other safety tips from APD include:
• Pack light and check websites about whether it is permissible to bring backpacks, food, etc., to events.
• Plan ahead for traffic delays if you must drive. Otherwise, carpool or ride MARTA, which is offering free rides on Labor Day.
• Park only in permitted lots and look for “no parking” signs to avoid citations.
• Remove valuables from vehicles, such as smart phones and purses.
About the Author
