2018 Masters Week traffic plans unveiled

Thursday, March 22, 2018

(News 12 at 6 O’Clock)

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Masters Week is just 11 days away, and Augusta city leaders are hashing out some final details before tournament traffic comes to the Garden City. The city traffic plan was released Thursday.

Signs touting “golf traffic’ have started popping up across the city, directing patrons where to go to get to Augusta National Golf Club.

News 12 stopped by Metro Diner, a new restaurant on Washington Road. That area is right on the route for golf traffic, and this will be the first time the diner has to deal with the extra congestion.

“We don't know exactly what to expect, but we're a smart company and we are going to plan to have very high volume,” says Jeff Freehof, a managing partner of Metro Diner.

The plan this year doesn’t stray much from those in years past.

If you're coming from Atlanta, signs will direct you to Riverwatch Parkway to Alexander Drive. Those coming from South Carolina will head straight to Washington road.

At the end of the day, traffic engineers will guide traffic almost identical to the way they came in. That’s where John Ussery, the assistant director of traffic for Augusta Engineering Division, comes in.

“We also take the two lanes that are on Berckmans road near the back end of the course and convert them both to outbound lanes,” Ussery says.

Ussery says the places locals might want to avoid include Washington Road from Stevens Creek Road, all the way to Calhoun Expressway. Another area to steer clear of runs from Alexander Drive to Riverwatch Parkway, but just in the morning hours.

Comparing this plan to those in previous years, there are just subtle differences.