Contraflow lanes on I-16 will close by 4 p.m., traffic flow will go back to normal

DUBLIN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Contraflow lanes for I-16 are now closed.

Traffic will no longer move west in the I-16 Eastbound lane.

The Georgia Department of Transportation and Georgia Public Safety are working together to close the contraflow lanes by 4 p.m.

Governor Nathan Deal’s Office sent a news release saying contraflow lanes were closed due to the lack of traffic.

The release said, “this allows the state to relocate our resources being used for contraflow and transition them westward.”

Also according to the release, the Governor changed the emergency declaration for Chatham County. The evacuation order is now voluntary.

Kyle Collins, Spokesperson, Georgia Department of Transportation, said he thinks maybe people took alternate routes or just decided to stay home.

“Maybe some folks just stayed put when they saw the path. It seems like it’s ever changing. Last we seen Irma, seems like it’s gonna turn more to the west,” Collins said. “It sounds like some of the emergency levels have lowered a bit on the coast around Savannah.”

Collins said everyone should listen to their local media and law enforcement, so they are aware of any changes to evacuation orders.