Georgia drivers heading out for New Year’s celebrations will see a break from most roadwork slowdowns, as the Georgia Department of Transportation will suspend most construction-related lane closures beginning New Year’s Eve.
Chattooga County and the rest of Northwest Georgia are in for an unusually warm stretch through Christmas and into the weekend, with afternoon temperatures running well above normal and flirting with record to near-record levels.
Georgia State Patrol (GSP) Troopers and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) Officers are urging drivers across Northwest Georgia to slow down and drive smart during the heavy-traffic Christmas and New Year’s travel windows, with high-visibility patrols planned statewide on interstates and state routes to help reduce crashes and fatalities. Georgia DPS has used these holiday periods for focused enforcement on unsafe behaviors like impaired driving, speeding, seatbelt violations, and distracted driving.
AAA is forecasting a record-breaking holiday travel season, with 122.4 million Americans expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the 13-day year-end period running from December 20 through January 1. That marks a 2.2% increase over last year and surpasses the previous record of 119.7 million travelers set in 2024.
Georgia drivers are seeing some welcome holiday cheer at the gas pump as prices continue a steady decline just in time for Christmas travel. As of Monday, the statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline sits at $2.74, with only minor day-to-day fluctuations expected.
If it doesn’t feel like late December in Chattooga County and across Northwest Georgia, you’re not imagining it. A warmer-than-normal pattern is taking hold and will only strengthen as we move through the week and into the Christmas holiday.
With Christmas and New Year’s travel picking up, the Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) is issuing travel alerts and safety reminders for motorists across the state. Georgia DOT says it will temporarily suspend lane closures on interstates, major state routes, and roadways near key shopping areas, malls, and retail districts to reduce congestion during peak travel times.
While extreme cold settles across Georgia, drivers are seeing a bit of relief where it matters, at the pump as the state’s average gas price moved lower this week. As of Monday, the statewide average sits at $2.76 per gallon, though daily price changes remain possible.
AAA projects 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the 13-day year-end holiday period from December 20 through January 1, a 2.2% increase over 2024 and higher than last year’s record. For Georgia, AAA forecasts a new milestone as well, projecting 3.8 million Georgians will travel during the same stretch, with the vast majority expected to drive and nearly 200,000 expected to fly.
The Thanksgiving travel period is routinely the busiest time of year on Georgia roadways, and state officials say 11 people died in traffic crashes during this year’s holiday reporting window.
