CARTERSVILLE, Ga. – Georgia Department of Transportation announced today that all scheduled and ongoing construction-related lane closures in northwest Georgia would be suspended for the Christmas holiday period.

The suspension will begin Thursday, December 23 at noon and continue until 5 a.m. on Monday, December 27, 2010. With Christmas Day falling on a Saturday, Georgia DOT anticipates more travelers than usual during the holiday week and weekend. Motorists should expect congestion near malls and retail centers throughout the week.

“We anticipate heavy traffic throughout the metro Atlanta area beginning Thursday around noon” said Georgia DOT Commissioner Vance C. Smith, Jr. “Mall and retail center traffic will be particularly congested. Additionally, many travelers will be returning home over the weekend.”

“Emergency maintenance work in the case of traffic accidents, and other unpredictable types of transportation incidents could still cause lane closures and/or delays. However, all construction-related lane closures will be suspended in Northwest Georgia. We know that a lot of people will be hitting the road for the holidays, and we would like to make it a little easier for them to go through Northwest Georgia,” explained Kent Sager, district engineer at the Georgia DOT office in Cartersville.

Travelers are advised to visit www.georgia-navigator.com for current road conditions, or call 511 on any phone for free, real-time traffic information. Traveler information is also available at www.511ga.org and a toll-free number for callers from outside the state, 1-877-MYGA511 (1-877-694-2511).

Georgia 511 provides statewide traffic conditions, route-specific information and estimated travel times within metro Atlanta. Additionally, 511 callers can access transit providers, major airports, rideshare organizations, Georgia tourism information and 511 systems in neighboring states.

For those preparing to fly, 511 connects callers to airports in Atlanta and Savannah for information on parking, delays or connections to carriers. An automated voice recognition system guides the service, but callers can also reach live operators to report accidents or congestion, request HERO assistance or obtain additional information.

The Georgia Department of Transportation is committed to providing a safe, seamless and sustainable transportation system that supports Georgia’s economy and is sensitive to both its citizens and its environment. For general information on the Georgia DOT, please visit our Web site (www.dot.ga.gov).