Following a state of emergency declaration for all of Georgia to prepare for Hurricane Idalia, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is taking protective measures for the state's bridges and thousands of miles of state routes and interstates in collaboration with the Gov.’s Office, Georgia Emergency Management Agency, the National Weather Service and state and local officials.
GDOT issued a press release yesterday detailing the measures they are taking:
- Georgia DOT’s Transportation Management Center (TMC) currently monitoring traffic conditions statewide
- Crews are at the ready to respond to storm impacts in southern and coastal Georgia. For their safety, Georgia DOT will monitor weather conditions and will begin cleanup efforts to ensure roads are clear for emergency personnel use as soon as it is considered safe for crews to be out
- Currently Georgia DOT has nearly 1,200 employees statewide standing at the ready to respond to storm impacts, with access to over 1,100 pieces of vital equipment and vehicles that support their storm response
- Georgia DOT crews in the northern and middle parts of the state are prepared to mobilize for deployment to other parts of the state as needed
To help facilitate travel, Georgia DOT has suspended construction work in southern and coastal Georgia. This includes all construction work at the I-16/I-95 interchange, effective immediately.
“We urge motorists to pay attention to warnings and advisories to stay off the roads due to the potential for tornadoes, extreme high winds, flash flooding and downed trees,” said Emily Fish, Georgia DOT’s Assistant State Maintenance Engineer – Emergency Operations, in the release.
Georgia DOT’s maintenance staff and bridge inspectors will be available once the dangerous weather conditions subside to patrol the interstates, state roadways and bridges to assist in identifying potential hazards or negative impacts to travel.
Motorists are being advised of the following:
- Motorists traveling on interstates and state routes should be wary of falling trees due to high winds. Georgia DOT is actively engaged in the removal of trees and overgrown brush along state rights-of-way in an effort to mitigate the possibility of falling trees across roadways
- Expected rainfall brings the possibility of flash flooding in some areas of Georgia. Motorists should take caution and be prepared to turn around when encountering water in the road. Do not drive around barricades
- Please do not attempt to clear debris from the roads. Downed live power lines can be entangled in fallen trees and branches and can be deadly
- Motorists are advised to treat intersections with non-operational signals as a four-way stop.
- Residents choosing to leave south or coastal Georgia ahead of the storm are advised to consult 511, state maps and wayfinding apps to determine the best, least congested route to ensure safe travel
For real-time road conditions, call 511 or visit Georgia511.
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Source: The Georgia Department of Transportation
