Atlanta Weekend Traffic: Football, Parade & Lane Closures

Editor's note: If you're planning on driving into the city this weekend, here are some things you should know, courtesy of Buckhead Patch.

The SEC Championship Game rolls into the Georgia Dome Saturday afternoon and The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Christmas Parade rolls down Peachtree Street in Midtown that same morning. 

Atlanta will be a busy place this weekend, but if you are looking for interstate lane closures, you better stay up late.

Almost all metro Atlanta interstate lane closures this weekend are scheduled between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. The only exception will be a double right lane closure on I-85 northbound from State Route 400 to Cheshire Bridge Road from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday for barrier wall work.

But, with a 60 percent chance of rain on Saturday and a 70 percent chance on Sunday, the few lane closures that are scheduled could be cancelled. As always, all work is weather permitting.

“The parade is at 10:30 (a.m.) on Peachtree Street and the game is at 4:00 (p.m.) at the (Georgia) Dome and we don’t have any significant lane closures planned in those areas,” said Georgia Department of Transportation District Construction Engineer Shun Pringle.

There will be several daytime lane closures on surface streets including the Buford-Spring Connector (SR13), Cheshire Bridge Road, Lindbergh Road and Sidney Marcus Boulevard. And there will be moving closures during the night for utility work, drain cleaning and sweeping in various locations on I-20, I-75, I-85, I-285 and I-575.  

With more than 170,000 attendees expected to visit Downtown and the surrounding area this weekend, the Atlanta Police Department will have an increased police presence visible with specialized units to manage traffic flow from vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

APD reminds people to be mindful of parking only in permitted lots and be sure to pay attention to any “No Parking” signs to avoid citations or fines. Violators are also subject to having their vehicles towed and impounded. Consider taking MARTA to these events, or carpooling, to minimize the traffic volume expected.

December 6 – 8, 2013 event listing (partial list)

· Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, Philips Arena, December 6, 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm

· Southeastern Conference, Fanfare, Georgia World Congress Center, December 6, 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm

· 2013 Jingle Bell Run/Walk, Turner Field, December 7, 7:30 am – 10:30 am

· Atlanta Belt Line Eastside 10K,  Krog Street, December 7, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

· Children’s Christmas Parade, Midtown Atlanta, December 7, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

· Southeastern Conference, Fanfare, Georgia World Congress Center, December 7, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

· Southeastern Conference Championship Game, Missouri Tigers vs. Auburn Tigers, Georgia Dome,  2:00 pm – 7:30 pm

· Auburn University Tigers vs. University of Illinois Fighting Illini, Philips Arena, December 8, 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

This report was provided by the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Atlanta Police Department and edited for publication.