Need rush-hour traffic clarification for I-285... (Atlanta, Columbus: construction, cost, vacation)

[Tourister]

Hello,

We are heading through Georgia on a family vacation later this year, but our current plans look like they will be routing us through the Atlanta area breathlessly close to rush hour - late afternoon on a Thursday.

Our plan is to head into Atlanta on I-20 from Birmingham, pick up I-285 southbound, then cross over to I-75 southbound heading toward Macon. My question is whether that route takes us against the basic flow of afternoon rush-hour traffic. Although I've been through Atlanta before, I simply don't recall this detail. My instinct tells me that people in the afternoon are heading west on I-20, out of the core Atlanta area, and more likely northbound along 285, but that's just speculation on my part. Thought I'd ask people here who would know for sure.

(as an alternative, I've contemplated an entirely different route out of Birmingham to Macon, taking US 280 to Columbus, then east on roughly US80 to Macon...but I'm concerned about what might seem to be "back" roads and possible GA speedtraps..)

Many thanks in advance,
Dave

[Mgyeldell]

If you are in Atlanta between 4 and 7 then you might hit traffic on 75 south because two large interstates bottleneck there to one interstate but that traffic only last for one exit when yo are down there so there is not that much to worry about. On 20 you are going against the flow of traffic and on 285 for the north south part you are with the traffic but it never gets backed up on that stretch of road

Hope you ave fun on your vacation

[samiwas1]

As mgyeldell said, you should be mostly OK.

You are going against traffic on I-20, so you will be fine there, and the west side of I-285 is generally not too heavy. I'm not sure about the south side, but I have never driven on that portion.

I just drove down to Macon last week leaving central Atlanta at about 5:00pm. While there was definitely some heavy traffic, it wasn't stupid. I absolutely HATE waiting in traffic, and generally get angry in the process, but I made that trip just fine. It shouldn't be too bad.

[thedudewiththeplan]

You'll probably hit some heavy traffic at I-285 getting onto I-75 south and then even heavier traffic at the I-675 interchange with I-75 in Henry County. Those will be your biggest problems.

[crux]

Clarify afternoon and you'll get a better picture of traffic.

75-675 merge all the way through Hudson bridge will be a hell hole from 4 - 8pm. There's major construction along that junction and it's the worse bottleneck south of atlanta. Depending on the week (and potential holiday) you could sit, heading southbound, from either SR-138 exit, Stockbridge, or from MT. Zion all the down to exit 218.... it can be from 2-8 miles of backup and cost you 30-120 minutes.

[rackensack]

You can always get information on the current state of traffic, construction, accidents, and delays on the Georgia DOT traffic info web site: Georgia Navigator :: Home. If you have chance, stop and check conditions before heading through. If not, you can get much of the same information by phone by dialing 5-1-1 from anywhere in Georgia. The actual conditions on the ground the day of your trip will be much more useful to you than general information about what it's typically like.

[Tourister]

Originally Posted by crux

Clarify afternoon and you'll get a better picture of traffic.

75-675 merge all the way through Hudson bridge will be a hell hole from 4 - 8pm. There's major construction along that junction and it's the worse bottleneck south of atlanta. Depending on the week (and potential holiday) you could sit, heading southbound, from either SR-138 exit, Stockbridge, or from MT. Zion all the down to exit 218.... it can be from 2-8 miles of backup and cost you 30-120 minutes.

Sorry, I thought I had said Thursday afternoon rush hour in the original post.

I am taking that to mean approximately the 4pm-6pm timeframe. My current planning suggests we will be closer to the 4pm timeframe.

-Tourister