The final weekend of 2019 is upon us! We can expect increased volume from vacationing commuters around the Metro Atlanta Expressways through the first weekend of 2020, but area construction is scheduled to be suspended through this period, per the Georgia DOT:

“Georgia DOT is suspending construction-related lane closures on heavily traveled interstate highways and state routes near major shopping areas and tourist locations from 6 a.m. Saturday, December 21 to 10 p.m. Thursday, December 26 for the Christmas holiday. Restrictions are also in place for the New Year’s holiday from 6 a.m. Tuesday, December 31 to 5 a.m. Thursday, January 2.

The statewide lane restrictions allow motorists work-zone free travel and reduced traffic congestion during the winter holidays.”

Nonetheless, watch for the potential of road work along I-285 by Georgia/400 in Sandy Springs, on I-75 in Cobb County near I-575, and along the I-285 west side perimeter to possible appear during overnight hours during the upcoming weekend.

Ring in the new year with special events during the weekend, like the “New Year’s Weekend Show” with Charlie Wilson at Cobb Energy Centre Saturday night, December 28th, or the “WideSpead Panic-New Year’s Celebration”, each night beginning Sunday, December 29th through Tuesday the 31st.

Saturday, December 28th kicks off the NCAA’s College Football Playoffs! This year, a semifinal contest is in Atlanta. The “Peach Bowl” showcases #1 LSU against #4 Oklahoma. Expect traffic delays around Mercedes-Benz Stadium and along the Downtown Connector (75-85) during the afternoon and early evening.

*All construction is as GDOT reports it and is weather-permitting. All times, lanes blocked, and locations could change.

>> Listen to 95.5 WSB for live traffic updates all weekend, or visit the traffic page on WSBRadio.com, and download the TRIPLE TEAM TRAFFIC ALERTS Mobile App for automated audio alerts.

WEEKEND EVENTS:

• Atlanta: Mercedes-Benz Stadium- NCAA Football: NCAA College Playoff Semifinal (Peach Bowl)- LSU Tigers vs. Oklahoma Sooners. Sat. 12/28, 4:00 PM Kickoff.
• Atlanta: Fox Theater- "Widespread Panic-New Year's Celebration": Sun.-Tue. 12/29-31, 8:00 PM Nightly.
• Cobb Co.: Cobb Energy Centre- Charlie Wilson-New Year's Weekend Celebration: Sat. 12/28, 8:00 PM
• Gwinnett Co.: Infinite Energy Arena- ECHL Hockey: Atlanta Gladiators vs. South Carolina Stingrays. Fri. 12/27, 6:35 PM; Gladiators vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Sun. 12/29, 2:05 PM.
• Gwinnett Co.: Infinite Energy Arena- NLL Lacrosse: Georgia Swarm vs. Colorado Mammoth. Sat. 12/28, 7:00 PM.