Two events to impact Hall traffic Saturday

GAINESVILLE - The Tour de Georgia rolls into Gainesville Saturday, but the Hall County Sheriff's Office says it is not the only event that will play havoc with traffic in the Gainesville area.

The sheriff's department says North Hall will get a double whammy - the 11:00 Murrayville Parade will impact traffic on Highway 60 starting about 10:00.

The Murrayville Parade begins on Georgia Highway 60 at Lanier Elementary and will end at Yellow Creek Road. Highway 60 will be temporarily closed for approximately 20 minutes to allow the parade to pass. Pedestrian traffic before and after the parade will be heavy along the route.

The largest event will be the Tour de Georgia. This will close several major roads and highways.

The Hall County Sheriff's Office along with the Gainesville Police Department and Georgia State Patrol will be working closely together closing one section of road at a time to allow the racers to pass.

The Tour de Georgia will temporarily close Georgia 82 (Holly Springs Rd) from the county line to Georgia 323 (Gillsville Hwy) to US 129 (Athens Hwy) into Gainesville. This will occur around 11:00 AM.

The riders will then travel trough Gainesville on EE Butler to Green Street and north on Park Hill Drive.

The Tour de Georgia will then temporarily close Georgia 284 (Clarks Bridge Rd) from Limestone Parkway north to US 129 in Clermont. The riders will cross US 129 and continue through downtown Clermont before returning to US 129 leaving Hall County.

The Hall County Sheriff's Office urges anyone using these routes to be patient and if possible plan alternate routes between 11:00 AM and 12:45 PM. please expect additional pedestrian traffic on the route also.

** Suggested alternate routes available Saturday from Clermont to Gainesville, Georgia 52 to Georgia 365 to Exit 24 or 20. (Avoid Exit 22).

** Suggested Route From Gillsville, Georgia 52 to Joe Chandler to Old Cornelia Hwy or Georgia 323 to East Hall Rd to Old Cornelia.

** Suggested Route For US 129 into Gainesville, US 129 to Roy Parks Rd to Georgia 60.