BROOKHAVEN, Ga. — Many commuters detouring around a massive bridge replacement on North Druid Hills Road followed their GPS apps down a narrow, private road that wasn’t built to handle heavy congestion.
Monday morning’s rush hour was the first real test of driver behavior. Georgia Department of Transportation initiated a 90-day closure of North Druid Hills Road between West Druid Hills Drive and Buford Highway while work took place to tear down and replace the 60-year-old bridge over North Fork Peachtree Creek.
GDOT has an official detour using I-85, Clairmont Road, and Buford Highway. That didn’t stop drivers from using West Druid Hills Drive to get around the closure.
“It’s thrown me completely off,” one driver said. “I’ve got to be to work, and I have no idea how to get there. All the other traffic is going the same way so I’m doing the same.”
Signs along West Druid Hills Drive tell commuters that the private street is closed to thru traffic. Hundreds of drivers ignored the signs as their GPS devices led them into a sea of brake lights.
GDOT acknowledged that West Druid Hills Drive is private and reiterated its plea that drivers follow its recommended detour.
“It uses the larger roads that can carry more capacity and they’re our roads,” said GDOT’s Natalie Dale.
After 11Alive notified GDOT about the added traffic on West Druid Hills Drive, the agency contacted both Waze and Google Maps. Within hours, the GPS apps no longer directed traffic down the private road.
GDOT said it would notify law enforcement if drivers continue to use West Druid Hills Drive as a detour.