Atlanta

Several MARTA parking lots full

ATLANTA — Traffic across metro Atlanta was bumper-to-bumper in some areas Monday as thousands returned to the city from spring break.

[READ: Alternate routes to get you around the I-85 bridge collapse]

Over the past week, the I-85 bridge collapse has caused headaches for drivers, and it’s only expected to get worse with more drivers on the road.

Mayor Kasim Reed, on Friday, told drivers to expect their commute time to be 30 percent longer Monday morning and to make sure they leave home with a full tank of gas.

“Monday is not going to be business as usual. And if you get in a car to go to work on the north side of the city without a full tank of gas, you are really putting yourself in jeopardy,” Reed said.

Reed encouraged companies to offer flexible work hours or give employees the option to work from home.

[READ: Which roads are open around the I-85 bridge collapse]

City of Atlanta offices delayed opening until 10 a.m. for non-essential employees.

Atlanta Public Schools altered its bus and drop-off schedules to help with the congestion.

GDOT is offering commuters money to find a new way to work, including taking MARTA.

Triple Team Traffic stayed with you throughout the morning on Channel 2 Action News to guide you through your commute.

A lack of major accidents helped traffic flow smoothly. Some people reported a longer than normal commute, but it appeared that many people heeded GDOT and the mayor's warnings.

MARTA's parking lots filled up as the morning went along, keeping many cars off the road.

We talked to a Red Cross volunteer who has to drive in three times a week from Gwinnett County.

"Coming down 85 wasn't bad wasn't too bad, but got off at Cheshire Bridge and since then it's been jigging and jogging, car to car, traffic,” Donna Anderson said.

One thing that kept traffic moving on many of the surface streets was Atlanta police officers stationed at intersections all over Buckhead and midtown helping keep them clear of backed-up cars.

They were out starting at 5:30 a.m. and will be back again for the afternoon commute, and be back every day until they are hopefully no longer needed.

REAL-TIME MARTA PARKING UPDATES

Last week, MARTA parking lots filled up quickly as commuters jumped on the option to avoid some of the traffic, so this week MARTA opened 12,000 extra parking spots.

The transportation agency created a new website, where you can check on parking lot capacities in real-time.

Here is the current parking situation at MARTA stations:

Station Parking Status
North Springs  red icon Lot Full 
Sandy Springs red icon Lot Full
Dunwoody green-status-parking Deck1 Lot Open 
  green-status-parking Deck2 Lot Open
Medical Center red icon Lot Full
Doraville red icon Lot Full
Chamblee red icon Lot Full
Brookhaven green-status-parking Front Lot Open

green-status-parking Back Lot Open 
Lenox red icon0 Lot Open
Lindbergh Center red icon1 Lot Open 
College Park red icon West Lot Full

red icon East Lot Full
Arts Center red icon Lot Full
Oakland City red icon Lot Full 
  red icon South Lot Full
West End green-status-parking North Lot Open
Lakewood red icon West Lot Full 
  green-status-parking East Lot Open
East Point red icon Lot Full
Candler Park red icon Lot Full
Inman Park red icon North Lot Full
  green-status-parking South Lot Open
Avondale red icon Lot Full
Kensington  green-status-parking Paid Lot Open 
green-status-parking Front Lot Open
REAL-TIME DELAYS

Cox Media Group

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