To ease Memorial Day weekend traffic congestion, the Georgia Department of Transportation is suspending construction-related lane closures from noon Friday, May 25 through 5 a.m. Tuesday, May 29 on Interstate Highways, and limiting lane closures on state routes that directly serve major tourist and recreation centers.  
 
“This first holiday of the summer travel season is one of the heaviest travel times. We hope the suspension of major construction work will allow motorists to safely get to and from their holiday festivities with less congestion and less aggravation,” said Georgia DOT State Construction Engineer John Hancock. “Motorists should be aware that crews may still work in proximity to highways and safety concerns may require long-term lane closures to remain in place. Also, incident management or emergency maintenance-related lane closures could become necessary at any time on any route.”
 
While Georgia’s new Hands-Free Law, which requires hands-free technology when drivers use cell phones and other electronic devices, goes into effect July 1, GDOT asks drivers to put down the phone now and to Drive Alert Arrive Alive. Always buckle up, eliminate distractions and drive alert. As Georgia DOT gears up for an active and productive summer 2018 construction season with projects on interstates and state routes across Georgia, implementation of the Hands-Free Law this summer is timely. For information about the new law, visit www.headsupgeorgia.com.
 
In the event of a crash or breakdown, GDOT advises motorists to never get out of the car on a freeway, unless your life is in imminent danger. If possible, pull off the road, turn on your hazard lights and stay seat-belted in the vehicle with the doors locked. For HERO assistance in metro Atlanta or CHAMP service on highways in other regions call 511,  a free phone service that provides real-time statewide information on Georgia’s interstates and state routes, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, and delays due to inclement weather. Callers can transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.