CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
CBS Atlanta News caught crews doing construction this week along a new exit on Interstate 575 during the height of the evening rush hour, a violation of the contractor's agreement.
Traffic backed up for miles north of Sixes Road in Cherokee County Tuesday before 6 p.m.
"This is absolutely crazy," said Phyllis Miller, a Canton mother who was trying to get her children to Boy Scouts. "People try to get home from work and are trying to get their kids to sports. This is insane."
Other drivers were equally upset.
"It's awful," said Annette Desercy who was trying to get back home to Florida. "They ought to do this when there's not so much traffic, you know, in off hours."
A spokesman for Georgia's Department of Transportation said the contractor is supposed to work after 7 p.m. and during off-peak hours. However, he said an exception was made this week because the drop in night temperature complicates crews efforts to lay asphalt.
"We apologize to motorists who had to wait," GDOT spokesman Mark McKinnon wrote in an email. "We encourage them to call 511 to check on construction lane closures."
While GDOT approved Tuesday's work, the agency said that crews rarely work during peak traffic times.
Not all drivers bought that explanation.
"Actually I have come this way about three times a week and it's absolutely, consistently, a mess," said Larry Zezula of Acworth.
Copyright 2012 WGCL-TV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
