How to prepare for golf tournament traffic in coming days

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - With golf tournament week just days away, get ready for the traffic.

What happens if you can’t avoid it? We spoke with city engineers about a few changes that will make it a little less congested.

Traffic engineers say the most important thing you can do is trust the traffic signs they have placed out. Drivers, you’ll see some of the same road traffic patterns as years past, like the eastbound Exit 199 ramp closed off in the morning, but they’re trying something new this year.

On a regular day, 50,000 cars drive on Washington Road, but one week out of the year, expect about 30,000 more.

“I’m old hat with this, with the traffic,” said Augusta resident Michele Guilford. “Time has given me a really positive outlook.”

MORE FROM NEWS 12:

It’s hard to miss the hustle and bustle here tucked away from it all in Guilford’s front yard.

“We actually don’t get traffic noise out here very much,” she said.

But when she does make a trip out.

“It’s going to take 10 or 15 minutes to go that mile and a half, if not longer,” she said. “Everybody else wants to be exactly where you are at that moment in time.”

This year, one change to help with that is on Riverwatch where engineers designed a U-turn lane for workers to take onto Eisenhower Drive for parking. They’re hoping it eases some of the Washington Road traffic and every car driving is watched.

John Ussery is the assistant director in the traffic engineering division. He said, “You see some pretty interesting things if you sit in here long enough and watch the cameras.”

More than 50 cameras are on watching and making sure cars move in the right direction.

“We want to keep everybody safe. We want to get you there as fast as we can,” he said.

Following the traffic signs and cones is key.

“Follow what the officers in the street are telling you to do. Follow what the message signs that we have all over Augusta are telling you to do,” said Ussery.

The biggest tip of all is to simply be patient.

Guilford said: “Give yourself time. Extra time is going to be your saving grace. Even if you think you have it timed perfectly, it’s not going to work out that way.”

To prepare, go to the city’s website and look for the Augusta maps route. Study it and make sure you know those routes so you do not end up in a sticky situation while on the roads.

Traffic notes

RIVERWATCH PARKWAY

AUGUSTA, Ga. - In anticipation of the Masters Tournament, lane shifts and closures have been installed on Riverwatch Parkway near Topgolf Way and Cabela Drive.

The changes will remain throughout the tournament, according to the city of Augusta.

Drivers should slow down and use extra caution in this area as the traffic patterns have changed, city officials said.

Expect some delays for the next two weeks.

That’s the first of several traffic changes that will take place in coming days.

EVANS TOWNE CENTER

EVANS - A couple of temporary road closures are planned in the Evans Towne Center area for this year’s Rock Fore Dough Event.

These roads will close to all traffic between 3 p.m. Tuesday and midnight:

Antebellum Way.
Evans Town Center Boulevard from Ronald Reagan Drive to Antebellum Way.

The closures are is planned for safety with pedestrian traffic expected to be extremely high in that area.

Drivers are urged to pay attention to their surroundings, obey all traffic signals and stay alert for pedestrians, especially children.

Pedestrians are asked to cross at marked mid-block pedestrian crosswalks and/or intersections with marked pedestrian crossings unless instructed differently by law enforcement.

SAVANNAH RIVER BRIDGE

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Due to recent weather conditions and the Masters, transportation officials are delaying an eastbound shift of traffic to new construction on Interstate 20 at the state line.

The shift will take place after the golf tournament.

Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.