ATLANTA, GA (March 17, 2008 3:00 p.m.): The Atlanta Police Department is pleased to announce, that with the hard work of city personnel and local contractors, the majority of streets in the downtown core will be re-opened to traffic in time for the afternoon rush hour. However, some streets in the areas of Cabbage Town and Vine City will remain closed.
Many traffic lights are still non-functional. Atlanta Police officers will be staffing many of the busier intersections during rush-hour this afternoon and again tomorrow morning. Motorists are asked to pay careful attention to the direction of the officers. Where there is no officer, and lights are not functioning, motorists are to treat the intersection as a four-way stop, giving right-of-way to the right.
All exit and entrance ramps to the 75/85 will be open. Commuters are encouraged to use the Martin Luther King and Williams Street exits to ease congestion on the Courtland Street exit.
Throughout the next few days, in order to assist clean-up efforts, police may close some streets for short periods of time, but most will remain open to vehicular traffic.
As for street closures:
Downtown
All streets will be re-opened by 4:00 p.m. with the exception of:
Marietta Street NW between Andrew Young International Blvd. and Centennial Olympic Park Dr. NW (front of CNN Center)
Andrew Young International between Peachtree Street and Spring Street
These two closures may be in effect for a few more days.
The following street closures outside of the downtown core remain in effect until further notice:
Boulevard S. E.
Remains closed from Memorial Dr. to Gartrell along the Cotton Mill Lofts.
Police have barricades in place – people are asked NOT to go around the barricades or police/fire line to view the damage. The main wall of the Lofts that sits next to the roadway along the portion of Boulevard that is closed has been deemed unsafe and unstable by Atlanta Fire-Rescue. This portion of Boulevard may remain closed as long as three weeks for structural repair.
Cabbagetown
Powell St. from Kirkwood to Memorial Dr.
Berean Ave. from Wylie St. to Memorial Dr.
Gaskill St. from Mauldin to Carroll St.
East Atlanta has a few issues remaining:
Patterson Ave. from Glenwood Ave. to Metropolitan Ave.
1300 to 1400 blocks of Glenwood Ave. has crews still removing trees
Police ask that people stay away from these areas as crews work to make the areas safe.
Pedestrian Sidewalk Closures
It is vitally important that pedestrians obey barricades and police/fire lines (yellow tape), which are in place for pedestrian safety. In addition, pedestrians are again warned to walk carefully where debris may still be on sidewalks, and to be vigilant and aware of broken windows above.
The following sidewalks will be closed to pedestrian traffic until further notice:
Spring Street between Marietta and Walton
Spring Street between Carnegie and Andrew Young International Blvd.
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For more information about this and services of the City of Atlanta visit our website at www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26