Atlanta Police Department Traffic Update for March 20, 2008

ATLANTA, GA (March 20, 2008 4:15  p.m.): The City of Atlanta is pleased to announce that with the hard work of city personnel and local contractors, great strides have been made in the continuing clean-up and recovery effort following Friday night’s severe weather. 

Latest Updates:

Traffic Update

• Some traffic lights are still non-functional.  Atlanta Police officers will be staffing many of the busier intersections during the rush-hour this afternoon and again tomorrow morning if needed. 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.
• Current street closures downtown, which are likely to be in effect for the remainder of the day include:

All closures communicated in the advisory earlier this morning remain in effect for afternoon traffic.

Spring Street between Marietta and Harris
Andrew Young International Blvd. between Williams and Peachtree Center
Peachtree Street between Auburn Street to Harris Street
John Wesley Dobbs between Park Place and Peachtree Center Avenue
Marietta between Andrew Young International and Centennial Olympic Park Drive

Boulevard will be closed between Memorial and Gartrell for the next few weeks while the walls of the Cotton Mill Lofts are made safe.

• Some side streets are being closed intermittently to allow crews to do work.
• Boulevard will be closed between Memorial to Gartrell for the next few weeks while the walls of the Cotton Mill Lofts are made safe.
• Most traffic lights downtown are active once again, with the exception of some intersections on Courtland Street.  Yesterday, police were posted at 17 intersections, this morning, that was down to seven.
• We appreciate the public’s cooperation as the City works to return the downtown core and other neighborhoods hit by the tornado to normal.

Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs

• Members of The Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs are still working with other city agencies to get an assessment on the damages caused by Friday’s tornado.
• Starting Friday, members of the department were out clearing trees and cleaning up debris.  Early Saturday, they were accessing additional damage and providing emergency services by providing access to recreation centers. 
• Worked with the Red Cross to provide a shelter at Central Park Recreation Center.  The Central Park Shelter will remain open as long as it is necessary.
• In the initial reports, there were 98 trees that were down were located in right-of-way areas throughout the city.  As of today, all 98 trees have been removed.   The Butler Recreation Center remains closed due to tornado damage. The Central Park Recreation Center continues to be staffed by the Red Cross as a shelter and the Lang Carson Recreation Center is currently being used as a Red Cross Unified Service Center.
• There was no damage reported in Cabbagetown Park and minimal damage was reported in the Vine City parks.

Department of Public Works

• The City of Atlanta strongly encourages media, government officials and all operational staff to wear hard hats while conducting assessments of storm damage and interviews in the downtown area. Hard hats are available at City Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue, SW, Suite 4700, Atlanta, GA 30303.
• Solid waste efforts are concentrated downtown, Vine City, Cabbagetown and Southeast Atlanta
• 200 individual signals have been replaced or repaired
• 150 signals are still in need of repair
• Once funding for parts needed is secured/approved, all outstanding signal repairs can be completed within 10 days
• Solid Waste Services is collecting debris placed at the curb

Atlanta Police Department

• About 30 injuries in total; one firefighter injured
• At least a dozen additional buildings have been identified with glass hazards; in addition to the many landmark buildings in the downtown area
• Public Safety moving forward: Stay away from affected area if at all possible; Motorists must be cautious, take extra time, be patient and careful; Pedestrians should wear boots, and watch for falling glass

Department of Planning and Community Development

• Inspectors inspected 16 buildings severely damaged and found 11 to be hazardous.
• The Inspection staff will continue to perform inspections throughout the tornado’s path until all buildings and structures are completed.
• Damaged vacant structures are also being inspected and evaluated by the Bureau of Code Compliance.

Mayor’s Offices of Human Services and Constituent Services

• The American Red Cross, in conjunction with the City of Atlanta and the Salvation Army, opened a Unified Service Center Monday March 17 at Beulah Baptist Church, 170 Griffin St, Atlanta, Georgia 30314, for people impacted by the recent tornado. On Thursday, March 20, 2008, The American Red Cross opened another unified service center at the Lang Carson Recreation Center, 100 Flat Shoals, Atlanta, GA 30316. The Red Cross will continue to provide mental health services, health services, and case workers for one-on-one assistance until all emergency needs are met. The Salvation Army will provide family food boxes and lunches to clients. Both centers will be open everyday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
• Please contact the Red Cross directly for individual emergency assistance at 404-870-4440.
• Hands On Atlanta is coordinating volunteer clean-up efforts in the areas impacted by the tornado and severe weather. For more information on how to volunteer, please go to www.handsonatlanta.org.

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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