Plan limits traffic in downtown corridors

The Atlanta Police department has created a traffic plan to ensure areas hit hardest by the tornado on Friday evening will be kept clear in order for public safety and clean-up crews to continue their work.

Traffic will be severely limited in an area bordered by: Andrew Young International Blvd., Phillips Drive NW, Centennial Olympic Parkway Dr. NW, Marietta Street NW/Decatur Street SE, and Peachtree Center. Consider planning a route that does not travel through downtown and plan extra time to get to work.

Police advise motorists coming to the city from the south, who work north of Harris Street, to continue on 75/85 past downtown and double back in to avoid the worst-hit areas. Those living north of the city, and working south of Marietta Street should plan to travel past the downtown exits and travel back. Exits to avoid off the 75/85 are Edgewood and Andrew Young International.

The following street closures are still in effect as of 5:30 pm:
Jessie Hill from Coca Cola to Armstrong
Auburn Ave from Bell Street to Jesse Hill
Coca Cola Pl. from Jesse Hill to Pratt Street
Boulevard – Gartrell to Memorial
Jackson – Gartrell to Todd Streets
Park Pl – Edgewood to Auburn Streets
Marietta St – Peachtree to Fairlie – westbound only
Luckie St – Peachtree to Forsyth
Peachtree – Marietta to Harris St.
Andrew Young International Blvd – Peachtree to Spring Street
Harris St. – Spring to Peachtree
Marietta Street – Centennial Olympic Parkway to Andrew Young International Blvd
Spring Street – ML King to Walton

Police are also encouraging people to use MARTA to get to work, and are asking pedestrians to pay particular attention to sidewalks where they may be debris and keep an eye on buildings where glass and other debris may still fall.

Motorists are being asked to be particularly cautious, patient and courteous. Police officers will be stationed at the busiest signaled intersections. Police also advise motorists NOT drive around barricades that have been erected for the public’s safety. Police also remind motorists that inactive traffic signals or those flashing red are to be treated as 4-way stops, with traffic proceeding one for one, giving right-of way to the right.

Street and sidewalk closures will be fluid – changing as clean-up crews and Public Works crews move from street to street repairing street lights and clearing away debris. Motorists are asked to use particular caution around work crews.