As the Memorial Day holiday wraps up, Georgia's roads and skies are bustling with a record number of travelers. Atlanta News First reports that over the holiday weekend, AAA estimated that more than 1.38 million Georgians traveled at least 50 miles from home, topping last year's numbers by 45,000 people. Nationwide, around 45.1 million individuals hit the road or skies, surpassing the previous record set in 2005.
Travelers taking to the skies crowded Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest, with peak crowd levels on Friday. Despite the surge, officials indicated that Memorial Day itself was also quite hectic, although, delays ranged from zero to 15 minutes this morning, with some disruptions due to inclement weather, as per FOX 5 Atlanta. AAA suggested that travelers plan their return trips carefully, with an emphasis on hitting the road before 2 p.m. today to avoid peak traffic congestion between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
For those on the road, the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS) joined AAA in advising commuters to drive early to circumvent afternoon and evening congestion. In a bid to ensure public safety, Georgia State Patrol officers and local police monitored the roadways closely throughout the weekend. "We want everyone to enjoy this holiday weekend with family and friends by focusing on your driving behavior and minimizing distractions that could lead to serious or even fatal consequences,” DPS Commissioner Colonel William W. Hitchens III said, in a statement obtained by Atlanta News First.
Recognizing the heightened travel activity the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) announced it would suspend all interstate lane closures from Friday at noon through Tuesday at 5 p.m. to help alleviate potential delays. GDOT also offers roadside assistance through the Coordinated Highway Assistance and Maintenance Program (CHAMP) and Highway Emergency Response Operators (HERO), which travelers can contact by dialing 511. As for air travel, over 20,000 travelers were screened by TSA as early as 6 a.m. on Friday and, popular destinations included Orlando, Seattle, and New York domestically, with Rome, Vancouver, and Paris leading internationally, AAA's booking data revealed.
