Returning Masters Tournament patrons and locals who remain in the area will see a handful of changes to Augusta Traffic Engineering’s effort to prevent golf week gridlock. With attendance expected to reach pre-COVID levels, first-time patrons might save time with a rideshare or hotel shuttle.
Traffic Engineering has developed a network of detours, one-way streets, road closings and even a hidden exit that GPS rarely seems to know. Key advice is to follow the signs and directions from officers.
In addition, the city division is restriping roads, replacing light bulbs, installing signs and adjusting the timing of traffic lights. It’s all to ensure the smooth and sightly passage of vehicles in and out of Augusta National Golf Club.
John Ussery, the head of Augusta Traffic Engineering for six years, said the plan remains in place to open two northbound lanes on Berckmans Road each morning and make Berckmans a one-way street each afternoon.
Travelers approaching the golf club from the south each morning will find Berckmans, which lines the club’s patron parking, split into two northbound lanes and one southbound lane.
NEW: Using both sides of the roundabout in one direction
An update this year is one lane will take the opposite side of the roundabout at Ingleside Drive.
“We figured out a way to actually get two lanes going through the roundabout up toward Augusta National in the morning,” Ussery said.
“One lane will go through the normal way, and then there will be officers there to direct traffic to actually go the opposite way you would normally.”
Each afternoon, all three lanes are southbound. Patron traffic exiting south from the parking lots can either go straight through the roundabout onto Highland Avenue or, using the righthand lane, turn onto Ingleside Drive.
“In the afternoon, if you want to north on Berckmans, that will be unavailable to you from 4 p.m. to roughly 7 p.m.,” Ussery said.
Berckmans, a public drive that feels like an extension of the club, was reconfigured in 2016 thanks to a $17 million advance by the golf club to get the sales tax project started early. The club maintains the roundabout landscaping through a long-term agreement with the city.
Traffic from the club’s upper parking lots, those closest to Washington Road, can similarly use one-way Berckmans lanes to enter in the morning and leave in the afternoon, he said.
Same: Closing the I-20 exit at Washington Road
Patrons arriving on I-20 will again encounter the eastbound Washington Road exit closed each morning from 7-10 a.m. Georgia Department of Transportation does this to stop traffic from backing up on the expressway.
Eastbound vehicles that don’t exit I-20 before the Washington Road exit will be routed to the River Watch Parkway exit, then to Alexander Drive.
NEW: River Watch turn lane to Eisenhower
Ussery said the big change this year is on River Watch, which backs up to Augusta National Golf Club employee parking on Eisenhower Drive.
“Last year, you could leave the parking lot and turn right on River Watch. This year, (Georgia Department of Transportation) has allowed us to install a right-turn lane. It allows people to now turn into and out of that gate,” Ussery said.
The gate isn’t normally open. It’s part of an arrangement between the club and Augusta officials, who allow the club to use Eisenhower Park for parking. But the passage is used as a route for all cars exiting the area.
Once they turn right, there isn’t another River Watch exit for the three miles to downtown Augusta.
Time for housekeeping, signs, bulbs
The city also takes the time to tidy up its roads, replace light bulbs and install all the additional signs intended to get motorists to the club.
“For the Masters, we go out, and we’ve been restriping several streets that lead to Augusta National where the striping has faded over time,” he said.
“We’ve replaced and installed not just normal traffic signs, but guide signs. We’re installing those over the next couple of days that say ‘golf traffic’ ‘or ‘golf parking.’ We’ve put up all the overhead signs that you see at traffic signals, the signs on the band wires that are between the lights.
Expect lane closures on River Watch the week of March 13 as lights are repaired and bulbs replaced, he said.
Lastly, during the week before Masters Week, Engineering adjusts the timing of traffic lights in the vicinity of the golf club.
“It basically emphasizes all the roads to and from Augusta National and the side roads, they have to wait a little longer,” Ussery said.
