Georgia’s Department of Transportation says “Snow, Sleet, Freezing Rain and Dropping Temps Creating Extremely Hazardous Driving.”
They’re urging motorists to stay off the roadways. Dangerous driving conditions are spreading throughout northeast Georgia.
Department of Transportation crews are active throughout affected areas but Georgia DOT is urging motorists to stay off of highways as conditions are likely to continue to deteriorate throughout the day and evening.
“We ask you to please stay home and when they get there not drive unless it is necessitated by an emergency,” asked Bayne Smith, District Engineer for Northeast Georgia. The Department advises the public to refrain from all but such absolutely necessary travel until midday Wednesday at the earliest.
SR 180 spur in Union County and the northern 1/3 of SR 348/Richard Russell Scenic Pkwy in White and Union Counties are closed – closed to traffic.
Crews are working throughout Northeast Georgia. These locations are hazardous and icing has been reported in these counties:
- Forsyth – SR 400 ramps to SR 141/Peachtree Pkwy (exit 13), slick with ice, crews on scene working interchange now.
- Habersham — SR 17 the entire length and SR 105 at Pea Ridge Road
- White — SR 115 entire length
- Lumpkin – SR 9 along the entire length and SR 60 along the entire length
- Rabun — SR 15/US 441 at Mountain City, tractor trailer crash that has road impassable
- Towns and Union – SR 2/US 76, SR 515
Motorists are urged to check weather conditions before and stay off the roads unless it is an emergency in the Northeast Georgia Mountains.
Choose caution and stay where you are instead of driving in hazardous winter weather conditions.
Winter Driving Tips
- Slow down and stay behind the snowplows. The road behind the plow will be the safest place to drive. Allow at least ten car lengths between your vehicle and snowplows or hopper spreaders.
- Do not pass. The plows are wide, and sometimes a group of trucks will work in tandem to clear snow quickly, especially on major highways.
- Be particularly aware of black ice conditions on surfaces such as bridge decks and entrance and exit ramps late tomorrow night and the early hours of Friday morning.
- Remember that technology helps, but only to a point. Four-wheel drive, anti-lock brakes and traction control are beneficial advancements in today’s cars, trucks and SUVs, but they can’t take the place of good driving habits and the need to reduce speed on snowy or icy roads.
Georgia DOT urges travelers to exercise caution and call 511 for updated information on roadway conditions before getting on the road during a winter weather event. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, including winter weather closures, reports of icing or other hazardous conditions on interstates and state routes. Callers also 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.
