Roads reopen as Trump set to speak at Cobb rally

Former president Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up while exiting his plane at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Credit: WSB-TV

Credit: WSB-TV

Former president Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up while exiting his plane at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

[UPDATE, 7:00 p.m.]: Traffic has eased on the Cobb Cloverleaf ahead of former President Donald Trump’s rally at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Tuesday evening.

According to Trump’s campaign website, the rally is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. Traffic delays remain farther north on I-75 in the Marietta area, but traffic volumes have largely settled after closures for Trump’s motorcade on the Downtown Connector and I-285 earlier in the day.

After the rally, Trump will return to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where airspace will be restricted until 11 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Southbound lanes on I-75 and the Connector will be temporarily shut down as the motorcade travels to the airport, though traffic should be lighter at the time.

[UPDATE, 5:30 p.m.]: Major highways closed in anticipation of former President Donald Trump’s travel through metro Atlanta as he visits the area for multiple campaign stops Tuesday evening.

Traffic was completely shut down on the Downtown Connector for about 20 minutes, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. Closures remain on I-285 at the Cobb Cloverleaf and on sections of Ga. 400.

Traffic is quickly building around the major highways where Trump’s motorcade is expected.

[ORIGINAL STORY]: Metro Atlanta commuters will face an extra traffic wrinkle Tuesday as former President Donald Trump crisscrosses the area for two political events.

Airspace restrictions and other security measures will begin around Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as early as 2:30 p.m.

Trump is expected to land at the Atlanta airport Tuesday afternoon before heading north to Forsyth County, where he will participate in a Fox News town hall at the Reid Barn, an event venue in Cumming. The hourlong town hall meeting will be pre-taped for the cable news channel’s show “The Faulkner Focus” in front of an audience of only women.

Next, Trump will head to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre for a campaign rally at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. Airspace restrictions in the area are scheduled to last until 11 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Trump’s multi-event schedule means the candidate and his team will need to travel north through Atlanta at the beginning of the afternoon commute window, then travel southwest to the rally when traffic volume is typically at its highest.

Traffic is expected to ease before Trump and his team head south back to the airport at the conclusion of the Cobb rally.

Commuters can expect traffic delays along major highways, especially the Downtown Connector, Ga. 400 and I-285, as well as temporary closures at some on-ramps.