Georgia Department of Transportation’s District Five is prepared for Hurricane Hermine which is currently forecasted to travel through southeast Georgia over the next 48 hours.
The Southeast District has 45 crews on standby tonight for Hurricane Hermine’s predicted path through southeast Georgia. District Five’s Office in Jesup houses the command center overseeing over 245 staff posted across 26 counties of southeast Georgia and is continually monitoring the storm to ensure the traveling public’s safety.
Georgia DOT works closely with the Governor’s Office and the State Operations Center (SOC) which enables Georgia DOT personnel, law enforcement and information partners to coordinate actions and information in a timely and efficient manner.
Maintenance crews will be monitoring the wind speeds at the Sidney Lanier Bridge in Brunswick and the Talmadge Bridge in Savannah. If gale force winds (40 mph) occur these bridges will be closed to protect the traveling public. At this time, National Weather Service have forecasted tropical storm force winds will start at 5 to 7 a.m. south of I-16, around 7 to 9 a.m. in the Savannah area. These bridges could be closed prior to this time frame with detours signed as: State Route 303 in Glynn County; SR 25 at the Houlihan Bridge. Gale force wind speed do not impose a danger to the bridge structure but for large vehicles being propelled by the force of the wind.
In the event that flooding occurs, crews will have to wait until water recedes to assess the situation. If motorists see flash flooding, trees down or other obstructions on roadways or bridges impeding travel, they are urged to call 511 and speak with an operator to report the incidents.
The Waycross, Baxley, Brunswick, Statesboro and Savannah Area crews are monitoring weather conditions and assisting in identifying potential hazards or negative impacts on travel and are poised to begin cleanup efforts as needed.
The district’s special outfits, sign shop and mechanics are on standby at their headquarters. These groups will perform storm cleanup and setup detours where needed.
Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about this or any other construction project on interstates and state routes. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, and delays due to inclement weather. Callers also can transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.
For information on the Department of Transportation, visit (www.dot.ga.gov); you also may follow Georgia DOT on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaDOT) andTwitter (http://twitter.com/gadeptoftrans).