(The Center Square) – Motorists traveling through Georgia will experience high gas prices and congestion in some areas over the Memorial Day weekend, despite state efforts to make travel smoother for Georgians.
The average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is just over $4, according to AAA. Georgians were paying $2.94 per gallon a year ago.
Gov. Brian Kemp extended a motor fuel tax break through June 3, giving Georgians a 33-cent break on gasoline and a 37-cent break on diesel. Georgia has the lowest gas prices among its neighbors. The lowest price is found in Alabama and South Carolina, where a gallon of regular unleaded is $4.16. It’s most expensive in Florida at $4.47 a gallon, according to AAA.
High gas prices are not expected to deter travelers from driving more than 50 miles from home, according to AAA. More than 1.2 million Georgia travelers are expected to drive, the organization said.
“Memorial Day travel is still reaching record levels, but with the smallest year-over-year increase in more than a decade,” said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Although travel demand remains strong, higher fuel prices and persistent inflation may cause some travelers to shorten trips, delay plans, or stay closer to home.”
The Georgia Department of Transportation suspended lane closures from Friday at noon until Tuesday at 5 a.m. Motorists could expect to see the heaviest traffic on Friday, the department said.
The I-75 corridor through through Clayton and Henry counties. is expected to experience moderate to heavy congestion, according to the Transportation Department. Gov. Brian Kemp set aside $1.8 billion in the state budget to add north and south express lanes to ease the traffic woes experienced there, but the project is still years away.
Because of the high volume, between 45% to 60% of drivers can’t get into the current express lanes, Kemp said in his final State of the State address.
“Nearly 200,000 vehicles a day travel this major artery that connects Georgians with key business hubs in much of our state,” the governor said. “A quarter of those vehicles are trucks hauling goods – more than most major highways. That’s a sign of a strong and active economy… but without enough roadway capacity, it creates bottlenecks and slowdowns.”
Transportation officials also expect heavy congestion on I-16 from Macon to Savannah. The corridor is a popular route to beaches in Georgia and South Carolina.
