Drive Safely as Forsyth County Students Return to School

As Forsyth County students return to school Thursday, the Georgia Department of Transportation reminds motorists to drive safely, especially with major road improvement projects underway throughout the community.

“Of course it always is important to drive cautiously but particularly so at the beginning of a new school year,” said Commissioner Keith Golden in a press release. “Youngsters walking and biking to school or gathering at bus stops may be too excited or distracted to pay close attention to traffic. So it is important that drivers be extra vigilant, especially with so much work still ongoing."

The Department relies on the long days and warm temperatures of summer to be its most productive construction season, but work actually goes on throughout the year with some projects, usually routine repairs and resurfacings, beginning late in the summer months.

Two projects underway in Forsyth County include – . Weather permitting, scheduled work hours are from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through Friday, Aug. 10.

Georgia DOT always attempts to minimize delays and schedules its work for off-peak travel hours on heavily used routes.

One such - . The project will extend the third lane northbound from its current end located north of the McGinnis Ferry Road bridge to the Big Creek Greenway overpass.

Still, lanes may need to remain closed and heavy equipment could be staged close to travel lanes during weekday hours; additional school traffic compounds the need for caution.

“Our foremost responsibility at Georgia DOT is the safety of our citizens. Please help us avoid a tragedy.”